New Delhi: While the world awaits final findings on the Air India flight AI-171 crash that claimed 260 lives on June 12 last year, a senior official has written a first-hand account of the tragedy and its chaotic aftermath.
In “Sentinel 2026”, the annual magazine of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Apoorva Pandey – the chief airport security officer (CASO) at Ahmedabad airport and a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank officer – narrated how events unfolded in the crucial minutes before the London-bound plane crashed just seconds after takeoff.
Almost a year after the accident, Pandey narrates how the airport’s CISF unit immediately became the first responder, mobilizing over 200 personnel within 12 minutes, rescuing over 50 people and airlifting the injured to hospitals. His article also highlighted the extraordinary, makeshift measures adopted by the force amid the chaos, including using sarees and broken wires to control the crowd, even as the airport issued a full-scale terror alert.
On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI 171, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and bound for London Gatwick, crashed into a medical college hostel complex shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane caught fire as soon as it collided. Of the 242 people on board, 241 died, along with 19 people on land. Earlier this month, Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu had said that the investigation into the Air India Flight AI-171 crash was in its final stages, and the report was “expected to come within a month”.
first responder, lifeguard
Describing the incident as the “most devastating disaster” faced by Indian aviation in recent memory, Pandey wrote in a chapter – “Intense 12-minute maneuvers during the AI 171 crash – CISF’s professional competence” – that the crash occurred at 1.39 pm, and that the “leadership displayed by the CISF” during the crisis reflected its rigorous training and institutional preparedness. He said that, upon receiving the alert, Pandey and the chief security officer (CSO) of Ahmedabad airport rushed to the site, and became “among the first to arrive”.
He writes that he directed the control room to rapidly dispatch “A-shift” personnel (of CISF) to the incident site, who were taking leave from their duty, as a result of which a 180-member team reached the accident site within no time. “Also, within a short time, a team led by senior CISF officers, supported by additional off-duty personnel, reached the spot in their personal vehicles. Altogether, 230 CISF personnel were at the accident site. All gazetted officers except those on operational duty were also directed to report to the accident site and were asked to lead the teams and personnel there.”
CASO, which is normally in-charge of all airport security related matters, writes, “This rapid deployment made CISF the first responder along with the airport fire tender team, which reached the site through the airport crash gate.”
This rapid deployment saw CISF deployed as the first responder along with the airport fire tender team, which reached the site through the airport crash gate. Many personnel were disaster management (DM) trained. They immediately secured the area, formed a cordon, and cooperated with fire crews to extinguish the intense flames using basic firefighting techniques to support the single fire tender at the scene.
“Simultaneously, other teams launched search and rescue operations in nearby collapsed structures. The teams also helped in evacuating residents from nearby burning structures and helped in shifting victims to hospitals. CISF’s prompt action was instrumental in saving many lives,” he writes.
He further said, “During this crucial ‘early golden hour’, CISF personnel along with the local people successfully rescued more than 50 people from the accident site.”
Sarees, broken wires and crowd control
Handling the growing crowd proved to be one of the toughest challenges. Pandey recalls that, by 2 pm, an additional 50 CISF personnel, including off-duty and ministerial staff, arrived to handle the thousands of spectators who were affected by the “horrific nature” of the incident. Personnel advised “cautious movement of firefighters and relief personnel to avoid secondary explosions occurring under such circumstances”.
Recalling an unusual but highly effective improvisation carried out by women personnel of the force, he further said: “A team of women personnel used clothes like sarees and broken wires to make makeshift ropes, thereby distracting the crowd and clearing access routes for emergency services like fire brigade, ambulance and medical teams.”
Beyond crowd control, the CISF provided “invaluable assistance” to the fire department by evacuating residents trapped in burning buildings and carrying both the injured and the dead to ambulances.
Pandey describes how CISF personnel “worked with brains and dedication” to carry out rescue efforts in a hazardous area filled with “spilled oil, electrical wires and corrosive elements”.
“The atmosphere was chaotic and extremely dangerous. There was dust, soot and smoke everywhere. Fires and sparks were raging at many places. The resident doctor’s hostel was filled with the screams of frightened relatives. Bodies, some burnt beyond recognition, were scattered everywhere. Parts of the aircraft lay in pieces, the tail section was stuck in the upper floor of the hostel building. Passengers’ luggage Was also scattered all over the place”, he writes. The CISF team members came under control of this disturbing scenario and threw themselves into action.
Airport on terrorist alert
While rescue operations intensified at the crash site, a second crisis was unfolding at the Ahmedabad airport as distressed relatives and visitors began gathering.
CISF, in coordination with Adani Airport management, immediately set up a dedicated space for the bereaved families. Along with this, additional manpower was deployed at duty posts, gates and access control points. Since the cause of the crash was unknown at the time, officials could not rule out sabotage or terrorism.
“The threat of a possible coordinated attack by terrorists at multiple locations could not be ruled out,” Pandey writes.
To strengthen the airport security, additional personnel were brought in from neighboring CISF units, including those deployed at ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) Ahmedabad, SAC (Space Applications Centre) Ahmedabad and ONGC Mehsana.
Pandey says, throughout the crisis the CISF leadership maintained real-time communication with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The discipline and quick response of the unit was later formally recognized by the district administration, state police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Gujarat Fire and Emergency Services.
important lessons to learn
Pandey emphasizes that the AI-171 tragedy offers important takeaways for the city administration and airport security agencies. “A comprehensive set of SOPs can be developed, covering different contingency scenarios, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders”. Subsequently, all SOPs should be regularly practiced, feedback improvements should be analyzed and lessons learned should be assimilated.
He further said, “There is a need to upgrade and modernize critical rescue, fire fighting and communication equipment for such major accidents. Regular mock drills, simulation exercises and joint workshop exercises between agencies should be made an essential regular part of airport operations. These activities should focus on improving medical response, fire safety and overall disaster management at airports.”
Recalling how the accident was a “test of emergency preparedness for Ahmedabad”, Pandey concluded that CISF’s 12-minute quick mobilization and seamless inter-agency collaboration provided testimony to how operational preparedness directly translates into saving human lives.
“At a moment of national tragedy, the CISF proved that effective leadership during emergencies stems from preparedness, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty. CISF’s rapid 12-minute mobilization, disciplined crowd control, fire fighting support and effective coordination with fire, medical and civil agencies highlighted two clear imperatives: the value of discipline, positioning of well-rehearsed first responders close to high-risk infrastructure and the life-saving of SWIL Impact of Inter-Agency Cooperation in Urban Disaster Response: CISF’s response to this incident is a testament to the operational preparedness that directly translates into life savings.”
