Tragic Air India Plane Crash Near Ahmedabad: Reactions from Cricket Stars

Cricket Legends Express Condolences

Indian cricket icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli shared their condolences following the tragic crash of an Air India aircraft in a residential area of Meghani Nagar, close to the airport, while en route to London on Thursday. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying 242 passengers at the time of the incident.

Both players took to social media to express their sorrow and support for the bereaved families, offering prayers and strength during this difficult period.

Virat Kohli shared on his Instagram story, "I am shocked to learn about the plane crash in Ahmedabad today. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected and their families."

Rohit Sharma, the former Indian captain, also expressed his grief, stating, "This is truly sad and disturbing news from Ahmedabad. I pray for the souls lost and their families."

The aircraft took off from runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST and shortly after, it issued a Mayday distress signal as per Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions. Unfortunately, all attempts to establish communication failed, and the plane crashed within minutes, leading to a massive fire and thick smoke, which was captured in videos circulating on news and social media platforms.

Among the 169 Indian passengers were 53 from the UK, seven from Portugal, one from Canada, and 12 crew members. The flight was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with over 8,200 flying hours, alongside First Officer Clive Kundar, who has 1,100 flying hours.

Emergency responders rushed to the crash site, managing to locate one individual believed to have survived. Efforts to identify the victims are ongoing, and rescue operations continue.