"Can't Imagine Families' Pain, Anxiety": Politicians On Air India Ahmedabad Crash

Politicians across party lines prayed for the safety of those and sympathised with the anxiety of passengers' families on board Air India's Ahmedabad-London flight, which crashed minutes after take-off.

While urging party workers to offer help on ground, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "The pain and anxiety the families of the passengers and crew must be feeling is unimaginable. My thoughts are with each one of them in this incredibly difficult moment."

Further, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Wayanad MP called the visuals of the crash "horrific", with the latter adding that the country is "hoping against hope" that those on board survive the crash.

The Ahmedabad Air India crash is heartbreaking.

The pain and anxiety the families of the passengers and crew must be feeling is unimaginable. My thoughts are with each one of them in this incredibly difficult moment.

Urgent rescue and relief efforts by the administration are…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 12, 2025

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi called for an investigation into the disaster, while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the incident has "shaken and saddened her to the core".

Very concerned about the Air India crash in Gujarat. My prayers are with those on the flight and their loved ones. I hope for a thorough investigation into the disaster.

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) June 12, 2025

Stunned and profoundly shocked to know of the most tragic Air India plane crash at Ahmedabad today. It is a most sad news for all of us, even while we anxiously wait for survivors details and pray for survival of all.

The crash during take- off of the London- bound plane has…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 12, 2025

Among the Chief Ministers who expressed shock over the Boeing 787-8 crash were MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Bhagwant Mann (Punjab), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Psuhkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Siddaramaiah (Karnataka) and N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh).

Deeply shocked by the horrifying crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad with 242 people on board.

My thoughts are with everyone affected and the families of those on board. Hoping every possible effort is underway for rescue and relief.

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 12, 2025

ਅਹਿਮਦਾਬਾਦ ਤੋਂ ਦਿਲ ਦਹਿਲਾ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਖ਼ਬਰ ਮਿਲੀ ਹੈ। ਇੱਕ ਯਾਤਰੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਉਡਾਣ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਰਿਹਾਇਸ਼ੀ ਖੇਤਰ ਦੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਹਾਦਸਾਗ੍ਰਸਤ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਧੂੰਏਂ ਅਤੇ ਤਬਾਹੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਤਸਵੀਰਾਂ ਬੇਹੱਦ ਪਰੇਸ਼ਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਹਨ।

ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਅੱਗੇ ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ।

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ
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अहमदाबाद से दिल दहला देने वाली खबर मिली। एक यात्री…

— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) June 12, 2025

Pained and shocked to know about Air India passenger flight incident at Ahmedabad airport.
Praying for everyone's safety 🙏

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) June 12, 2025

"Deeply shocked to learn that an Air India flight with over 200 passengers has met with an accident in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

This is a deeply distressing development.

Praying for everyone's safety and hoping that all those affected receive timely help and care."

-Chief Minister…

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 12, 2025

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also prayed for the safety of those on board.

Saddened and shocked to hear about Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad with 242 passengers on board. Praying to God that passengers and crew remain safe!

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) June 12, 2025

Deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic accident of the Ahmedabad-London flight during take off in Ahmedabad. My deepest condolences to everyone affected, especially the families enduring this unimaginable loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted on the ground…

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) June 12, 2025

The London-bound aircraft was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board. Out of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.

Officials have not released any information about the number of casualties or survivors, however, the intensity of crash and the aircraft turning into a ball of fire has raised serious doubts about prospects of anyone being alive.

The flight, which took off at 1.39 pm crashed just minutes after take-off. It could barely climb 625 meters in the air before coming crashing down on a medical students' hostel in the vicinity.

Air India has set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information. The Civil Aviation Ministry also set up an operational control room to co-ordinate all details pertaining to AI-171 crash. It also shared the phone number - 011-24610843 | 9650391859 for the common public to reach out and seek details.