The Federal Government has expressed profound sorrow and extends its heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of India over the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
“Nigeria stands in solidarity with India during this period of immense grief and unfortunate loss,” a statement by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, read in part.
“While initial reports indicate that no Nigerian citizen was aboard the flight, the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi remains in close contact with Indian authorities to verify this information and provide consular assistance where necessary.
“In this moment of shared sorrow, Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to global aviation safety and supports the call for thorough investigation into the crash with a view to preventing such tragedies in the future.
The London-bound passenger plane crashed in a residential area in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing at least 265 people on board and on the ground — but one passenger is believed to have survived.
An AFP journalist saw bodies being recovered from the crash site, and the back of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner — which had 242 passengers and crew on board — hanging over the edge of a building it hit around lunchtime.
The government opened a formal investigation into the cause of the crash, and rescue teams worked into Friday morning scouring the charred wreckage with sniffer dogs.
“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after Air India’s flight 171 crashed following takeoff. “It is heartbreaking beyond words”.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai told reporters said that “265 bodies have reached the hospital”.
That suggests that at least 24 people died when the jet ploughed into a medical staff hostel in a blazing fireball — and that the toll may rise further as more bodies are located.
