In a heartfelt gesture, tech giant Google has paid tribute to the victims of the tragic Air India plane crash that occurred on June 12 by displaying a symbolic black ribbon on its homepage. The ribbon appears just below the search bar and, when hovered over, displays the message: "In memory of the victims of the tragic plane crash." The crash involved Air India Flight AI171, a Dreamliner aircraft that was en route from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat to London. The flight crashed shortly after takeoff around 1:30 p.m. due to a suspected technical fault. The disaster claimed the lives of 241 out of the 242 people on board, making it one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in recent times.
According to reports, the aircraft was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese passengers. The main cause of the crash remains under investigation, with technical malfunction being the preliminary assumption. Due to the intense fire that engulfed the aircraft, most of the victims’ bodies were severely burned. Authorities are now conducting DNA tests on the families of the deceased to accurately identify the remains before handing them over to relatives.
Condolences have poured in from all quarters — political leaders, celebrities from the film and cricket industries, international dignitaries, and citizens worldwide have expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Google’s symbolic act has been widely appreciated as a meaningful tribute to the lives lost. In times of collective grief, such gestures serve as solemn reminders of the tragedy and offer a digital space for remembrance and solidarity. As investigations continue, the world mourns the loss of so many lives, united in grief and remembrance.