India’s Catholic Church has expressed deep sorrow and offered prayers following the tragic crash of an Air India flight near Ahmedabad on 12 June, which claimed the lives of nearly everyone on board.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, went down shortly after takeoff, crashing into a residential neighbourhood near the airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest city. Authorities confirmed that 241 people lost their lives, with only one survivor, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin, now recovering in hospital.
“The entire Catholic community of Gujarat is in shock,” said Archbishop Thomas Macwan of Gandhinagar. “When the news reached us, our hearts were crying.”
Speaking from his office just 20 kilometres from the crash site, Archbishop Macwan said the diocese was mourning several Christian passengers believed to have perished, including a recently married couple from a nearby village.
Among the dead was Vijay Rupani, Gujarat’s former chief minister, who served the state from 2016 to 2021. He had been en route to London to visit his wife. Archbishop Macwan described Rupani as “a good man” and expressed sorrow over his death.
In a joint message on behalf of the Church in Gujarat, Archbishop Macwan extended heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families. “May God bless our country in the face of this inconceivable tragedy,” the statement read.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) also issued a statement on the same day, calling the crash a national tragedy and assuring the victims’ families of the Church’s prayers.
“We stand in solidarity with the victims, their loved ones, and the rescue teams working tirelessly on the ground,” the CBCI said, acknowledging the widespread grief the disaster has caused. The bishops also prayed for the swift and full recovery of the lone survivor.
Bishop Athanasius Rethna Swamy of Ahmedabad joined in mourning the immense loss of life. “Our prayers are with every family grieving today,” he said. “To see even one survivor from such a crash feels nothing short of miraculous.”
According to Air India, the passengers included 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. The aircraft also had 12 crew members, including two pilots. Among the victims were 11 children and two infants, as confirmed by local police.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. The aircraft involved, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, is considered one of the most advanced passenger jets in service. Aviation tracking site Flightradar24 noted that the plane first flew in 2013 and was delivered to Air India the following year. This incident marks the first fatal crash involving this model, which began commercial service in 2011.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from Gujarat and served as its chief minister for 13 years before becoming prime minister in 2014, posted on social media: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.”
The crash is the deadliest aviation disaster in India since 2020, when an Air India Express flight overran the runway at Kozhikode Airport in Kerala, resulting in 29 deaths.
As the nation mourns, the Church continues to offer prayers and spiritual support for all affected. Christian leaders have urged believers across the country to lift up the victims, families, and emergency workers in prayer.
“Tragedies like these remind us of the fragility of life and the need for unity, compassion, and faith,” the bishops said.
Adapted from UCA News.
