On June 12, a tragic air accident occurred in Ahmedabad involving Air India’s Flight AI 171. The flight was headed to London and took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Just minutes after takeoff, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed in the Meghani Nagar area near the airport. Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke and flames rising from the wreckage, highlighting the severity of the incident.
The flight carried 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Shortly after taking off at 1:38 PM, the aircraft communicated with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and declared a ‘Mayday’ call, indicating an emergency. Unfortunately, contact was lost shortly after. Witnesses stated that the plane lost balance in the air and fell into a densely populated area outside the airport boundaries.
Following the crash, a massive fire broke out, prompting the deployment of over seven fire brigade units to the scene to extinguish the flames. An official statement from Air India confirmed that aboard the flight were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals.
In the aftermath of the crash, the situation turned more dire as reports confirmed that 241 individuals, including passengers and crew, were confirmed dead, making the incident one of the deadliest in recent history. The deceased were taken to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where DNA matching processes began to identify the victims and facilitate the return of bodies to their families. As of now, 92 DNA matches have been completed, with 47 bodies already handed over to their families.
Dr. Rajneesh Patel, the Additional Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, provided updates on the identification process during a press briefing. He mentioned that the families of the deceased who provided DNA samples would be contacted via designated hospital phone numbers to ensure proper communication regarding the identification of their loved ones.
The crash has raised serious concerns about aviation safety in India. An expert analysis suggested potential structural failures in the aircraft during takeoff. According to John M. Cox, an aviation safety expert, there is a possibility that the plane’s slats and flaps were not set correctly for takeoff, leading to insufficient lift and thrust. The pilot’s last recorded message indicated a lack of power, further corroborating these findings.
In light of this tragic event, the government has initiated a thorough investigation into the causes of the crash. The families of the victims are in deep mourning as they await further updates. Meanwhile, the aviation community is calling for enhanced safety protocols to prevent such disasters in the future.
This incident serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with air travel, and the urgent need for stringent safety measures to protect passengers and crew alike. As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on ensuring that such a tragedy does not happen again.
Leave a Reply