June 12, 2025: In the aftermath of the Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that rescue was nearly impossible due to the intense heat and massive fuel load on board the aircraft.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 pm but crashed within five minutes, smashing into a medical college hostel and killing most of the 242 people onboard.
Fuel and Heat Made Rescue Impossible
Speaking to the media at the crash site, Shah said:
“The plane carried almost 1.25 lakh litres of fuel, and due to the high temperature, there was no chance of saving anyone.”
Only one passenger, Ramesh Vishwaskumar Bucharvada, survived — having jumped from the aircraft moments before impact.
Massive Coordination Effort
Shah added that as soon as the central government received word, a high-level emergency meeting was convened with the Gujarat chief minister, state home minister, and civil aviation minister.
“The Prime Minister called within minutes. All relevant departments are working together on rescue and recovery operations.”
Shah visited the crash survivor in the hospital and stated that DNA samples from the families of all 242 onboard are being collected. The bodies will be released only after DNA confirmation.
Nationalities Onboard
According to Air India, of the 230 passengers,
- 169 were Indian nationals,
- 53 British,
- 7 Portuguese, and
- 1 Canadian.
There were also 12 crew members, including two pilots.
Investigation and Condolences
Shah confirmed that a detailed investigation will be launched immediately to determine the exact cause of the crash.
“We stand in solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident,” he said.
This marks one of the deadliest air crashes in India in recent years, with visuals of black smoke, burning debris, and devastated buildings near the crash site flooding social media.