Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Shah Rukh Khan Says He’s ‘Absolutely Heartbroken,’ Offers Prayers for Victims and Their Families

In a devastating tragedy, an Air India flight headed for London’s Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. The plane went down in a densely populated neighborhood near Meghaninagar, leaving behind a scene of heartbreak and shock.

The aircraft — a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating as Flight AI171 — was carrying 242 people, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. Rescue workers were on the scene within minutes, doing everything they could to control the fire and help survivors. But the loss is already being called one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent years.

As news of the crash spread, an outpouring of grief followed. People across the country — and the world — are mourning the lives lost. Actor Shah Rukh Khan shared his sorrow on social media, writing:

“Absolutely heartbroken with the news about the crash in Ahmedabad… my prayers for the victims, their families and all affected.”

Other stars from the film world, including Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Kangana Ranaut, and Sonu Sood, offered heartfelt condolences as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “stunning and heartbreaking,” and assured the public that he’s closely monitoring the rescue and relief efforts.

“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words,” he wrote. “In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it.”

The nation’s grief is being felt deeply — not just by those who lost someone, but by all who recognize the sheer weight of such a sudden, senseless loss.

Shah Rukh Khan, who recently made his debut at the Met Gala, has been in the spotlight not just for his films but also for his upcoming project King, in which he stars alongside his daughter, Suhana Khan. The film, expected in 2026, will feature a powerhouse cast including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, and Jaideep Ahlawat.

But for now, the spotlight is elsewhere — on the hundreds of families who are mourning, on the rescue workers still digging through the wreckage, and on a nation trying to make sense of an unspeakable loss.

As investigations into what went wrong begin, the hope is that answers will come — and that this painful tragedy will lead to greater focus on aviation safety. For now, India grieves.