Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Victim's Father Criticizes Lack of Support from Air India

A tragic plane crash involving Air India's AI-171 Dreamliner near Ahmedabad has left families devastated. Nganthoy Sharma Kongbralatpam, a cabin crew member, lost her life, and her father has voiced his frustration over the lack of support from Air India and the government. He learned about the incident through social media and is now calling for assistance for the affected families. The Tata Group has pledged financial aid, while Prime Minister Modi has taken steps to address the situation. This incident raises critical questions about communication and support in times of tragedy.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 13, 2025, 19:21 IST

Tragic Incident Involving AI-171 Dreamliner

The AI-171 Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, which was set to depart for Gatwick, London, tragically crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday. Nganthoy Sharma Kongbralatpam, a cabin crew member, lost her life in this unfortunate incident. Her father expressed his disappointment, stating that neither Air India nor the state government has provided any assistance following his daughter's death. He revealed that he learned about the crash and subsequent rescue efforts solely through social media.

Kongrailatpam Nandesh Kumar Sharma, the victim's father, lamented, "Air India has not communicated anything to us. I only found out about the crash and other details through social media. We were not informed about what actions would be taken or what would happen next. No one from Air India or the government visited us to provide information."

Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam, aged 21, was among the cabin crew on Air India flight AI 171, which crashed near Ahmedabad airport. The flight had a total of 242 individuals on board, with the airline confirming that 241 perished, leaving only one British national as the survivor.

Overcome with emotion while speaking to reporters, he called on the state government to support the affected families. "I just want the government to acknowledge this tragedy and assist the family. My daughter is gone, and I have no words left to express my grief. I have three daughters, and now one is lost," he stated.

In response to the tragedy, the Tata Group has pledged financial aid of Rs 1 crore to the families of the deceased and those injured in the crash. Additionally, a health assistance team from Air India arrived in Ahmedabad to provide support. The airline confirmed that there were 242 passengers on the flight, including 169 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.

The aircraft fell shortly after takeoff from runway 23, crashing outside the airport perimeter. Witnesses reported seeing black smoke rising from the crash site, which was clearly visible.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a meeting with officials to discuss the Air India accident and personally inspected the crash site to evaluate the situation.