Ahmedabad Air India plane crash: Nation and diaspora pay tribute to victims, King Charles to lead moment's silence

As the nation mourns the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in, tributes poured in from across India and around the world to honour the 274 lives lost, including 241 passengers and crew and 33 ground victims.

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) on Friday held a prayer ceremony at the Mahabodhi Temple to remember the victims. In Uttarakhand's Haridwar, hundreds gathered on the banks of the Ganga River. Locals and priests lit lamps and performed rituals to pray for peace for the departed souls.

In Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram, the People’s Protection Council offered flowers to the sea at Agni Theertham beach in Pamban, followed by a moment of silence while In Uttar Pradesh, students and officials at King George Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow held a condolence meet.

Additionally, members of the Indian diaspora held a vigil outside the Indian High Commission in London. Floral tributes and silent prayers marked the gathering. Kunal, a diaspora member from Ahmedabad, said, “We paid tribute to those who lost their lives… I pray to God that such a tragedy never happens again.”

Meanwhile, Britain’s King Charles III will lead a minute’s silence on Saturday during his annual Trooping the Colour parade. Buckingham Palace announced that the royal family would wear black armbands to honour the victims. “Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected,” said the King in a heartfelt statement.

Of the 242 people aboard, only one survived—Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin. Airline authorities confirmed the aircraft carried nationals from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada.