Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on Friday and extended condolences on behalf of the UK following Thursday’s tragic plane crash, reported news agency PTI.
She further added that the UK and India are “working together” to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
Asked about her meeting with the PM, she said, “I passed condolence from His Majesty the King and the Queen, from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and from our Foreign Secretary, all of whom are really shocked by what they have seen, and want to offer support.”
Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: Aviation expert and former Deputy Director of the National Aerospace Laboratories, Saligram J. Murlidhar, discusses possibility of “fuel contamination” behind Ahmedabad plane crash.
He described the Ahmedabad plane crash as “one of the most unfortunate incidents in India’s recent history.”
Speaking to ANI, Murlidhar ruled out a bird strike as a likely cause, noting that both engines failing simultaneously would not be consistent with that scenario. Instead, he pointed to fuel issues: “One of the reasons that can cause thrust loss, power loss, which prevented the aircraft from climbing, is fuel contamination,” he said.
He also explained the crucial next steps in the investigation, which include recovering and analysing the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) to understand the aircraft’s final moments.
The Dreamliner, he added, carried over 35 tons of fuel and suffered what appeared to be a major technical failure that caused it to descend rapidly.
Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday expressed profound grief over the death of former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the 241 passengers killed in the crash of Air India Flight AI-171 – a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
In a heartfelt message posted on X, Shah said, “I worked for a long time in the organisation with former Gujarat chief minister Vijaybhai Rupani ji. Whether it was strengthening the organisation as the state president or keeping Gujarat’s development journey moving as the Chief Minister, Vijaybhai fulfilled every responsibility with full responsibility. It is difficult to believe that he is no longer amongst us.”
Remembering Rupani’s personal qualities and his contributions to the party, Shah added: “Calm and thoughtful by nature, Rupani ji’s loyalty and discipline towards the organisation were amazing.”
Rupani’s untimely demise has shocked political leaders across the spectrum, with many highlighting his leadership and unwavering commitment to Gujarat’s development.
Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: Among the 241 passengers who lost their lives were Dr. Prateek Joshi, a London-based radiologist; his wife, Dr. Komi Joshi, a pathologist from Rajasthan; and their three young children-9-year-old Miraya and 4-year-old twin boys, Nakul and Pradyut.
A selfie taken by Prateek Joshi onboard the flight, showing the smiling family, has gone viral since the Ahmedabad crash killed at least 260 people.
Prateek’s father, JP Joshi, shared an emotional account of his son’s final journey: “He had come to India to take his family with him. He had been working in London for four years. He often came back to visit his children and wife. He never used to take a direct flight. But he said he would this time, so it would be easier for the children. His wife had resigned from her job in Udaipur so that they could live together,” Joshi told news agency ANI.
He continued: “He even told me that Papa, you also get prepared to come live with me in London. I told him that first, you settle down, then I will come. I was also looking into shutting down my clinic so my wife and I could move to London to stay with our son. That picture going viral on social media is from inside the plane. My grandchildren were so happy to be moving to London. My grandsons slept with me the whole night. We had purchased their school bags. They slept all night with their school bags, saying they would now study in London. No one from the airlines has contacted us.”
Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule voiced strong concerns over India’s transport safety and called for urgent government action.
Speaking to ANI, Sule said, “Civil aviation is a big alarm. It’s been a red flag for a long time. I request the Government of India to come out with a white paper.”
Highlighting broader issues, she added, “The entire transport, be it roads, airways or civil aviation, there are a lot of concerns about safety.” Sule also acknowledged Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s focus on road safety, saying, “I thank Nitin Gadkari because he has been openly asking MPs to focus on safety. Road safety has been his priority. All of us have tried our best to work with him to make sure infrastructure and safety improve.”
She expressed frustration over recent incidents, noting, “Unfortunately, our experience in railways and civil aviation has been challenging. The accidents are very alarming. I am going to discuss it in the Parliament. I’m going to meet Ashwini Vaishnaw.”
Reflecting on the human loss, she said, “It’s very painful. I appreciate that yesterday Amit Shah and today the Prime Minister went. The whole country, and the world, has reached out. It’s been a very difficult 24 hours for India. We are all deeply pained.”
She also remembered BJP leader Vijay Rupani, who was among the victims: “Vijay Rupaniji had been a most wonderful colleague to all of us.”
Supriya Sule urged more effort on railway safety, especially in Mumbai, saying, “The number of people using railways in Mumbai is huge. The government of India needs to put in a lot of effort and improve safety in the railways pan-India.”
Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: The human toll of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad continues to grow, with even bystanders among the victims. On Friday, authorities confirmed the death of 15-year-old Akash Patni, the son of a tea-seller, who was not on the flight or inside the hostel building the aircraft crashed into. He was sleeping under a tree near his family’s tea stall close to the BJ Medical College hostel when the London-bound Boeing 787 went down.
“The death toll based on the bodies recovered so far would be between 265 and 270,” said Kanan Desai, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad (Zone 4).
Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: King Charles will lead the nation in observing a minute’s silence during Trooping the Colour on Saturday to honour the 241 victims of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, reported PA media.
The tribute, requested by the King himself, will take place as the nation marks the annual King’s Birthday Parade.
The crash involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to Gatwick Airport, which went down in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday.
As a mark of respect, King Charles and senior members of the royal family riding in the ceremony will wear black armbands.
Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: Following the boeing 787 flight crash, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered enhanced safety inspections for Air India’s entire Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet. The step is aimed at preventing any repeat of what has become one of India’s deadliest plane crashes in recent history.
Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: Mehul Shah, President of the Indian Medical Association (Gujarat), confirmed that four medical students and a doctor’s wife were among the victims. The air india plane crashed ahmedabad into a doctor’s hostel, leading to additional casualties on the ground.