Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Sindhu Mourn Victims Of Ahmedabad Plane Crash

The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12 has triggered a wave of grief across the country and beyond. The flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, went down near Megh Nagar, not far from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, just minutes after departure.

On board were 242 individuals - 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian national. The incident has drawn an outpouring of condolences and solidarity from world leaders and public figures, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Back home, India's top athletes expressed their sorrow. Badminton star PV Sindhu was among the first to react, posting on X: "Deeply saddened by the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London today. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of all 242 souls on board. May love surround every grieving heart and strength find those left behind."

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma and veteran batsman Virat Kohli also responded to the heartbreaking news, with Kohli saying the crash had left him "shocked and devastated." Cricketer Mohammed Siraj, currently in England for the upcoming Test series, said the tragedy had left him deeply disturbed: "What happened today in Ahmedabad is extremely tragic and has left me very sad. Life is so precious. My heart goes out to all the families affected by the incident."

Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik, now part of the broadcast team for the World Test Championship final in London, also posted: "Heartbreaking news from Ahmedabad. Prayers for everyone."

The ill-fated flight was captained by Line Training Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with over 8,200 hours of flying experience. The first officer, Clive Kundar, had logged 1,100 flying hours. According to Air Traffic Control and eyewitnesses, the pilots issued a mayday call moments after takeoff, but all subsequent attempts to communicate with the aircraft failed. Soon after, thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site.

In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement expressing his deep concern: "The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating. I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time."

As investigations begin and families await official confirmation on casualties, the nation continues to reel from one of the worst aviation tragedies in recent Indian history.