President Bola Tinubu has extended heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government, and the people of India following the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad.
The ill-fated London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reportedly went down at about 1:00 p.m. yesterday, carrying a total of 242 people — including two pilots, 10 cabin crew members, 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. The crash prompted the immediate closure of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, with Indian Prime Minister Modi describing the incident as one that has “stunned and saddened everyone.”
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed deep sorrow over the incident. He offered prayers for the victims, the injured, and the people of India during what he described as a deeply painful period.
President Tinubu also extended his condolences to the governments and peoples of the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada, whose nationals were also among the casualties. He praised the rapid intervention of India’s emergency response agencies, expressing confidence in their ability to manage the complex aftermath of the tragedy with professionalism and compassion.
He concluded by praying for the repose of the souls of the departed and for strength and comfort for their grieving families.