Images: Prime Minister Modi's Visit to the Ahmedabad Aircraft Accident Location
Air India Crash: A Tragic Day in Ahmedabad
Friday morning saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a heartfelt visit to the site of the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, one of the most catastrophic air disasters in recent memory. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, flight AI171, carrying 242 souls including Gujarat's former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, tragically crashed into a medical college complex minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, yesterday afternoon.
Modi, upon arriving at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, directly proceeded to the crash site. Surrounded by officials, he spent around 20 minutes meticulously surveying the wreckage. This harrowing scene was captured by the PMO.
The lone survivor of the crash, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, was one of the people the prime minister visited at the city civil hospital. Modi also paid a visit to the C7 ward, where the injured were recovering, spending approximately 10 minutes consoling and comforting them.
Following his hospital visit, Modi convened a review meeting with top officials from the Gujarat government. The discussion focused on the sequence of events post the plane crash.
While the investigation into the cause of the accident continues, significant progress has been made. Investigators have managed to retrieve at least one black box from the wreckage—a vital tool that will help unravel the mystery behind this disaster.
Being central to understanding the crash, the black boxes (flight data and cockpit voice recorders) will offer crucial insights into the events that transpired before the unfortunate incident.
In the aftermath of this calamity, India's aviation regulator has commanded Air India to conduct detailed safety inspections on all its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. These checks, due for completion in two weeks, will primarily consist of power assurance examinations.
As a mark of respect to the victims, Air India and Air India Express have chosen to retire the flight number ‘171’. The Ahmedabad-London Gatwick service will now operate under ‘AI 159’.
The investigation into this heartrending incident is being spearheaded by a high-level committee helmed by the Union Home Secretary, with participants from numerous government departments and organizations including the DGCA and the Indian Air Force.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in communication with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), ready and willing to offer technical support should it be required by the Indian authorities overseeing the investigation.
[Sources:
[1] India Today
[2] Times of India
[3] Live Mint]
In the midst of this tragedy, politics and general news have taken center stage as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has been actively engaged, visiting the hospital to console the lone survivor and the injured, as well as convening review meetings with top officials to discuss the sequence of events following the accident. Meanwhile, a high-level committee, comprising various government departments, is spearheading the investigation into the incident, with international organizations like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ready to offer technical support when needed.
