The Indian sports community has united in grief following the tragic crash of an Air India flight shortly after its departure from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was en route to Gatwick Airport in London, carrying 242 individuals, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.

Just five minutes after taking off at 1:38 PM, the aircraft crashed into a hostel belonging to BJ Medical College in the Meghani area, resulting in a catastrophic explosion and fire.

This heartbreaking incident has left the nation in mourning, claiming numerous lives, including both UK citizens and Indian nationals returning to London for work or education, leaving families devastated across both countries.

The news of the Ahmedabad plane crash sent shockwaves through the Indian sports fraternity, prompting many athletes to express their sorrow on social media. They offered prayers for the victims and condolences to the grieving families affected by this tragedy.

Prominent figures such as Rohit Sharma, PV Sindhu, Neeraj Chopra, and others shared their heartfelt messages. Rohit Sharma expressed his sadness on Instagram, stating, "Really sad and disturbing news from Ahmedabad. Prayers to all the lives lost and their families."

PV Sindhu also shared her condolences, writing, "Deeply saddened by the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London today. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of all 242 souls on board."

Sania Mirza, the former tennis star, conveyed her heartbreak, saying, "Prayers for the families and people on the Air India flight. My heart sunk hearing the news of the crash."

Neeraj Chopra expressed his sorrow, stating, "Heartbroken by the visuals coming in from Ahmedabad. My prayers and thoughts are with everyone involved. May God give strength to the families of the victims."

Other athletes, including Irfan Pathan, Hardik Pandya, and Yuvraj Singh, also shared their condolences, emphasizing the profound impact of this tragedy.

Tragically, former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Rupani was confirmed to be among the 169 Indian nationals on board the ill-fated flight. Union Minister and Gujarat BJP president CR Patil confirmed his passing, stating, "Our respected Ex CM Vijay Rupani was on the flight. Tragically, he is among the victims of this accident. May his soul rest in peace."

In the wake of the incident, Air India released a statement confirming the number of passengers and their nationalities, ensuring full cooperation with the authorities investigating the crash.

Air India confirmed that flight AI171, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM, was involved in an accident shortly after takeoff. The airline reported that the flight was carrying 242 individuals, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals.

The airline also stated that the injured were being transported to nearby hospitals and established a dedicated hotline for passenger inquiries. The aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with extensive flying experience, alongside First Officer Clive Kundar.