Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday paid his respects to the victims of the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash by observing a two-minute silence. The incident, which occurred in Ahmedabad on Thursday has left the nation in mourning.
Earlier in the day, CM Dhami also offered heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash. Speaking to reporters, he said, “I express my condolences to those who lost their lives and wish a speedy recovery to those injured. May God give strength to the families of those who lost their lives in this incident.”
The Chief Minister also expressed sorrow over the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the passengers killed in the disaster. Remembering him with deep respect, Dhami said, “Vijay Rupani was a very humble politician. He made a lot of contributions to Gujarat and the nation.”
The crash of Air India Flight AI-171 is one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in recent years. Air India confirmed shortly after midnight on Friday that 241 of the 242 people on board had died. The aircraft involved was a 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 p.m. local time, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. It crashed moments after take-off near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, striking the resident doctors’ hostel of a medical college in a densely populated area.
Air India released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hours, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform you that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.”
According to official records, the passengers on board included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Remarkably, one passenger—a British national of Indian origin—survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital. The aircraft was being operated by an experienced flight crew. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was serving as the Line Training Captain, had logged over 8,200 hours of flight time. He was assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had accumulated 1,100 flying hours.
As rescue operations and investigations continue, the country mourns the immense loss of life and pays tribute to those who perished in the tragic incident.
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