'Heartbreaking beyond words, stunned'; PM Modi responds to Ahmedabad plane crash

AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was ‘stunned’ while responding about the catastrophic plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

"I have no words to express my grief, this is heartbreaking beyond words." Wrote PM Modi on X. The Prime Minister also held talks with various ministers concerned to monitor the rescue operations.

An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft that took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Gujarat at 1.39 pm today crashed in Meghani Nagar. Since the accident occurred in a residential area, the extent of the disaster is beyond expectations. According to the DGCA, there were 242 people on board the plane, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew members. Of the passengers, 53 were British nationals. There were 169 Indians, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. Children were also among the victims.

It is reported that this is one of the biggest air crashes that have happened in India. The plane was flown by a highly experienced pilot. The plane was flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal along with First Officer Clive Kunder. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had 8200 hours of flying experience. The co-pilot had 1100 hours of flying experience.