In the wake of the devastating Air India flight 171 crash near Ahmedabad, locals have voiced their outrage and demanded a full investigation, urging Air India to take complete responsibility for the tragedy that claimed 241 lives, including 12 crew members.
Speaking from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where the bodies of the victims are being identified, a local resident expressed deep grief and anger over the incident.
“How many people were on that London-bound flight? How many children were there? How could this accident even happen? There must be a thorough probe into how such a disaster occurred,” he said. “Does human life have no value? It is Air India’s responsibility to take action and be held accountable.”
He further criticized the airline’s safety protocols, questioning how such an incident could occur despite modern aviation technology. “We buy a ticket, pay money, and place our trust in the airline. That trust comes with a responsibility. Air India must take strict action against those responsible for this tragedy.”
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI-171, crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025, en route to London Gatwick. The aircraft crashed into a resident doctors’ hostel building just outside the airport perimeter.
A sole survivor, identified as a British national of Indian origin, is currently undergoing treatment, officials confirmed.
The flight carried passengers from multiple nationalities, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national.
The aircraft was being flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 flying hours, along with First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours.
According to Air Traffic Control (ATC), the plane departed at 1339 IST from Runway 23, issued a Mayday call, and then lost contact. It crashed moments later, with eyewitnesses reporting thick black smoke billowing from the crash site.
In response to the disaster, the Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of each deceased passenger.
As grief and anger grip the local community, citizens are calling for transparency, justice, and reforms to ensure such tragedies never happen again.
