FRIDAY 13 JUNE 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 12 | 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. I have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India Pained beyond words by the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. Disaster response forces have been quickly rushed to the crash site. I have spoken with Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel to assess the situation. — Amit Shah, Home Minister of India It is the most sad news for all of us, even while we anxiously wait for survivors' details and pray for survival of all. I am praying to God at this moment. — Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. — N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Air India Mamata Banerjee, CM of West Bengal Over 200 feared killed in devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad Air India flight bound for London’s Gatwick crashes into residential neighbourhood shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport NIKHIL VYAS & RAHUL GAHLAWAT NEW DELHI, 12 JUNE M ore than 200 people were feared killed when an Air India plane, AI 171, en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just minutes after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, in one of the worst air disasters in India. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying as many as 242 people, including former Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport at 1.38 p.m. and crashed within five minutes into a residential locality in Meghani Nagar, just outside the airport perimeter. The former Gujarat CM was also killed in the incident. According to Air India, there were 169 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, apart from two pilots and ten crew members on board the ill-fated aircraft. The crash resulted in thick black smoke engulfing the area and widespread panic among residents. The Ahmedabad Police and other local authorities swung into action immediately and launched massive rescue and relief operations. No official confirmation has been issued regarding casualties or survivors in the crash. There were fears that some in Meghani Nagar, where the plane crashed, could be among those killed. Multiple visuals from the site show severe damage to buildings and the aircraft’s fuselage embedded in a structure. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) con- firmed that the aircraft issued a “Mayday” call moments after takeoff, after which radio contact was lost. Initial assessments suggest the possibility of multiple bird hits leading to engine failure, but officials stress that a detailed investigation will determine the exact cause. The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior pilot with 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours. The DGCA, in an official statement, said: “The aircraft crashed into a residential area five minutes after takeoff. A team comprising Assistant Directors of Airworthiness and a Flight Operations Inspector was already present in Ahmedabad and is collecting information at the site.” According to flight tracking website Flight Radar, the Air India flight was scheduled to fly from Ahmedabad Inter- Residents jumped off building as crash impact leads to massive fire AGENCIES national Airport to London Gatwick Airport at 09:50 local time. Its scheduled arrival time was 18:25 local time. The signal was lost at 10:08 local time at 625 feet, less than a minute after take-off, it added. After the accident, the DG, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, stated that an investigation team went to Ahmedabad to examine the exact cause of the accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. He has asked them to go to Ahmedabad and ensure all possible assistance is extended to those affected in the wake of the air mishap. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Home Minister, and the Police Commissioner regarding the plane crash. He also arrived at the site of to take stock of the ongoing relief and rescue operations. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu visited the site of the crash to assess the situation. Arriving amid ongoing rescue and relief efforts, the minister took stock of the damage, interacted with officials on the ground, and reviewed emergency response measures. Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson expressed deep sorrow over the tragic crash of Flight AI171, which took place shortly after its take-off from Ahmedabad. In his first statement since the accident, Wilson called it a "difficult day" for the airline and said that all efforts are now focused on helping passengers, crew members and their families. AI171: Indian-origin UK citizen survives horrific plane crash AHMEDABAD, 12 JUNE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE As Air India flight AI-171 travelling from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport crashed into a residential hostel for intern doctors shortly after takeoff, it ignited a massive blaze and leaving a trail of destruction. More than eight people are suspected dead, with dozens more injured or missing. According to preliminary reports, the aircraft's wing clipped the third, fourth and fifth floors of the multi-storey hostel building near Meghani Nagar. The impact caused a catastrophic fire that rapidly engulfed the structure, home to more than 50 people, including young medical interns and their families. The fire's intensity left several trapped inside and forced NEW DELHI, 12 JUNE others to leap from the upper floors in a desperate attempt to escape. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and heartbreak. “A man threw his child down from the fourth floor hoping to save her life,” one local resident said. A woman who jumped from the same floor suffered critical injuries. Multiple residents were seen jumping from windows as the fire raged through the building. While official casualty figures are awaited, sources suggest that more than eight to nine people may have died as the Air India plane crashed into the intern doctors' hostel. In disturbing twist, authorities reported incidents of theft during rescue operations. Safes and personal belongings inside the hostel were found ransacked, with cash, jewellery and mobile phones allegedly stolen by individuals posing as volunteers. This has sparked outrage among citizens and officials alike. Meanwhile, the Airport Authority has recovered the aircraft's black box, a critical component that records flight data and cockpit communication. It will be crucial in piecing together the exact chain of events that led to the crash. Early reports suggest a pos- sible double engine failure due to bird hits shortly after takeoff, though this is yet to be confirmed by investigators. Relief operations continued late into Thursday evening, with fire brigades, NDRF teams, and emergency responders working tirelessly at the crash site. The severely damaged building is said to be at risk of collapse, further complicating rescue efforts. In what can only be described as a miraculous escape, a British national has emerged as of now the sole survivor of the tragic Air India AI 171 crash that took place in Ahmedabad. The aircraft, bound for London, had 242 people on board, including passengers and 12 crew members. The survivor has been identified as Vishwas Kumar Ramesh (photo), a British citizen who was visiting Gujarat and was en route back to London. According to officials, Ramesh was found alive in Seat 11A, and was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Medical staff report that he is critically injured but stable, and currently under close observation. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 JUNE NEW DELHI, 12 JUNE function when he heard the news about the air crash. He immediately decided to be physically there at the accident site. Describing the tragedy as ''tragic and horrific,'' he said. He said he was also directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately rush to Ahmedabad to oversee the rescue efforts. The minister confirmed that former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, was also on board the ill-fated aircraft. “Mr Rupani was there...every life is important to us. This incident has shaken the nation,” he added. Mr Naidu said all agencies have been told to take swift and coordinated action. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 JUNE Senior BJP leader and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani died in the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday, authorities said. He was 68. Rupani was on board Air India flight AI171, which was headed to London’s Gatwick Airport when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. He was reportedly seated in business class seat 2D. Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil confirmed Rupani died in the accident. A seasoned politician, Rupani served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from August 2016 to September 2021 and steered Gujarat through a critical phase of industrial growth and post-Covid recovery. Born on 2 August 1956, in Rangoon (now Yangon) in then Burma, Rupani and his family migrated to Gujarat's Rajkot during the political turmoil in the Southeast Asian country. He completed his B.A. and L.L.B. from Saurashtra University, later becoming actively involved in the RSS and student politics through its student wing, the ABVP. Rupani began his political journey as a municipal corporator in Rajkot in 1987. He served as Mayor of Rajkot from 1996 to 1997 and was elected to the Gujarat Assembly multiple times. His loyalty to the BJP and clean image made him a key figure in Gujarat politics, and in August 2016, he was chosen as the successor to Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who had stepped down. Rupani continued in office after the 2017 Assembly elections, helming the government during challenging times, including the Covid19 pandemic and major industrial policy transitions. Crash in Ahmedabad first involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner Govt will probe Ahmedabad air crash, no one will be spared: Civil aviation minister Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu on Thursday said the government will order a “fair and thorough” probe into the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad and asserted that no one will be spared. ''We will do a fair and thorough investigation...we are not going to spare anyone. We will leave no stone unturned. We still have to find out the numbers (casualties). We will go to the depth of why this incident has happened,'' he told reporters after overseeing the rescue and relief operations at the site of the air crash in Ahmedabad. Mr Naidu said he was in Vijayawada for an official Recalling his harrowing experience, Ramesh said, “There were bodies all around me, there were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance.” "The police found one survivor in seat 11A. One survivor has been found in the hospital and is under treatment. Cannot say anything about the number of deaths yet as it may increase as the flight crashed in a residential area," Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik was quoted as saying by a news agency. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani declared dead The crash of the ill-fated Air India flight AI AI171 to London’s Gatwick Airport minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is the first time a Boeing 787 Dreamliner has crashed since the plane’s introduction in 2011. The aircraft has earned itself a reputation for being fuel efficient, innovative design, and enhanced passenger comfort. It is widely used for longhaul routes including by American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and Air India too which added it to its fleet in December 2012. The ill-fated aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, entered into service in December 2013 and is considered relatively young for a wide body jet. It was one of 27 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in Air India’s fleet and earlier in the day, the aircraft had flown into Ahmedabad from New Delhi. The London-bound service was operated as a codeshare with Singapore Airlines, an equity partner of Air India. Boeing in a statement on X posted: “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.” The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has faced several technical and safety issues worldwide over the years. In 2013, the entire global fleet of Dreamliners was grounded after incidents of lithium-ion battery fires, including one on a parked Japan Airlines jet in Boston and another mid-air emergency in Japan. These incidents led the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to suspend Dreamliner operations until Boeing redesigned the battery system. In 2024, Boeing again came under scrutiny after whistleblower Sam Salehpour, an engineer at the company, reportedly told the US Senate about structural problems in the Dreamliner’s fuselage. He claimed that small gaps and improper assembly could cause early wear and possible structural failure. The FAA launched an investigation, which is still ongoing. Another whistleblower John Barnett, a former quality manager at the company had also raised several safety con- cerns about Boeing’s manufacturing practices, especially related to the 787 Dreamliner. Barnett claimed that the workers were forced to install substandard parts to meet deadlines by Boeing. He also claimed that defective parts were retrieved from scrap bins and fitted to aircraft. In another shocking revelation, he flagged that up to 25 per cent of emergency oxygen systems on the 787 could fail in flight. In March this year, a Boeing 787-9, operated by LATAM Airlines, experienced a sudden altitude drop mid-flight, injuring 50 people. The cause was later identified as a malfunction in the cockpit seat. Over the years, pilots have also reported issues such as engine icing, fuel leaks, generator failures, and electrical system faults.