African Leaders Extend Condolences over Air India Crash

ADDIS ABABA, Xinhua: Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has expressed condolences over the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 that killed over 200 passengers.

“On behalf of the AU Commission and the peoples of Africa, I express my profound sorrow and deepest condolences to the government and people of the Republic of India, and to all other nations affected,” Youssouf said in a statement on Thursday.

The chairperson said he is deeply saddened by the significant loss of life, including many Indian nationals as well as citizens of other countries, and affirms that his thoughts and prayers are with all the families grieving the loss of their loved ones in the unimaginable tragedy.

Also on Thursday, Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah extended condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the plane crash.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said in a statement that the tragic crash is not only an air disaster that saddens the Indian people and other nationalities on board, but also deeply pains the Namibian people, who have strong bonds of friendship and cooperation with India.

The plane crash on Thursday afternoon killed 241 people on board. However, a passenger survived the crash and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The London-bound flight crashed shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.