Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Jaishankar Engages International Counterparts

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has reached out to the foreign ministers of the UK, Portugal, and Canada following the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad. The crash claimed 242 lives, including foreign nationals, prompting an international diplomatic response. Jaishankar expressed condolences and assured full support to grieving nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and conducted a review meeting with officials. He instructed authorities to offer every possible assistance to the victims' families. Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with the injured and chaired a high-level meeting with aviation officials and the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Authorities are currently conducting DNA tests at the Civil Hospital to identify victims. The Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12. Among the dead were 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian nationals.

Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced ₹1 crore as ex gratia for each of the deceased's families. The crash has raised concerns over safety protocols, triggering a full-scale investigation by Indian aviation authorities.

The tragedy marks one of the worst aviation disasters in India in recent memory and has led to increased scrutiny of airline procedures, infrastructure readiness, and crisis response mechanisms.