India Engages International Counterparts After Tragic Air India AI-171 Crash; 241 Dead, Sole Survivor Under Treatment
New Delhi : External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar confirmed that he has been in contact with his counterparts from the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada in the wake of the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI-171 near Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives.
“In touch with FS @DavidLammy of UK, FM @PauloRangel_pt of Portugal and FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada regarding the Ahmedabad plane crash. Expressed our profound condolences and offered fullest support in this hour of grief,” Dr. Jaishankar posted on social media platform X on Friday.
In an earlier message, he extended gratitude to the global community: “Thank all foreign leaders and Governments for their condolences at the tragic loss of lives in the Ahmedabad air crash. We appreciate this deeply.”
The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, slamming into a densely populated locality near BJ Medical College. Of the 242 individuals on board, only one ; a British national of Indian origin ;survived and is currently receiving medical care.
Among the deceased were 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian national, underscoring the international scale of the tragedy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been coordinating with the respective governments, assisting in identification, repatriation, and liaison with the bereaved families.
Emergency teams remain on-site conducting recovery operations, while forensic teams at BJ Medical College are performing DNA testing to identify victims whose remains are unrecognizable.
Grieving families from across India, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, continue to wait anxiously for official confirmation regarding their loved ones.
The Indian government has pledged a comprehensive investigation into what is being termed one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India are collaborating with international aviation safety agencies to determine the cause of the crash.
