PM Modi Visits Ahmedabad Crash Site, Promises Swift Action

Ahmedabad, India, June 13, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi rushed to the site of the Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, where a Boeing 787 Dreamliner went down, killing 241 of 242 onboard. His emotional visit, marked by meetings with grieving families and firm orders for answers, has gripped the nation. Here’s the latest on this tragic event.

Modi’s Time at the Site

The visit was intense:

• Modi walked through the wreckage in Meghani Nagar with National Disaster Response Force teams, seeing the charred remains firsthand.
• He oversaw efforts to recover the black box, found on a hostel rooftop, and urged speed in finding the cockpit voice recorder.
• At Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, he spent over an hour comforting families, pledging ₹10 lakh compensation per victim.

His presence showed resolve.

What He Ordered

Modi acted fast:

• He set a 24-hour deadline for a preliminary crash report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
• All Air India Boeing 787s are grounded pending a safety audit, impacting 12 aircraft.
• A high-level probe will examine air traffic control (ATC) communications, following a Mayday call at 625 feet.

The nation expects results.

#WATCH | Ahmedabad | PM Modi visited the Air India plane crash site and took stock of the situation, today

(Video source: DD) pic.twitter.com/7OByRvw20Y

— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2025

The Crash Scene

The devastation is stark:

• The plane crashed into a medical college hostel in Meghani Nagar, not farmland, sparking a massive fire across a 1km area.
• Of 242 onboard, including 230 passengers and 12 crew, one survivor, Viswash Kumar Ramesh in seat 11A, was found alive.
• A local said, “The flames lit up the sky—it’s a miracle anyone survived.”

The tragedy has left scars.

Political and Expert Views

Reactions are mixed:

• Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi urged for accountability, questioning the airport’s emergency response speed.
• Aviation experts say Modi’s visit pressures the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for transparency but warn of risks to Boeing’s India deals.
• An X post read, “Modi’s at the site, but we need truth, not just promises.”

The crash fuels debate.

Global Response

The world is engaged:

• Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, is heading to India to support the AAIB’s probe, as the 787’s safety record faces scrutiny.
• A U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team is en route to assist, marking the first fatal 787 crash.
• British and Israeli diplomats offered condolences, noting 53 British nationals among the dead.

The investigation has global stakes.

What Families Need Now

Support is urgent:

• DNA testing is underway to identify victims, with families waiting at hospitals for closure.
• Mental health counselors are being deployed to help those grieving in Ahmedabad.
• Travel restrictions are eased for relatives to claim remains, with Air India arranging relief flights.

Families seek peace amid pain.