By Charles Igwe
Pope Leo XIV has expressed profound sorrow following the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was carrying 242 people when it plunged into a residential area, reportedly striking the B.J. Medical College hostel, a residence for medical professionals.
In a telegram sent on the same day and signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope said he was “deeply saddened by the tragedy involving an Air India aircraft near Ahmedabad.” He extended his “heartfelt condolences” to the families and friends of those who perished in the disaster and offered prayers for all involved in the rescue and recovery operations.
Pope Leo also commended the souls of the deceased “to the mercy of the Almighty,” assuring the global Catholic community’s spiritual solidarity with the victims and their loved ones.
According to reports, the flight was en route to London Gatwick and was carrying a diverse group of passengers—169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian—including 217 adults, 11 children, and 2 infants. The incident has been described as one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
Dramatic footage from the crash site, widely circulated on social media and television, showed flames and thick smoke rising from the wreckage, with debris strewn across the area. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, transporting the injured on stretchers as search and recovery efforts continued.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “heartbreaking beyond words,” saying the nation was “stunned and saddened” by the tragedy. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the sentiment, calling the crash “devastating” and expressing sympathy for all affected.
The United Kingdom and India share strong historical and cultural ties, with nearly 1.9 million people of Indian descent living in the UK, according to the 2021 census.
