An Air India flight bound for London’s Gatwick Airport with more than 240 people on board crashed on Thursday shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, a major city in northwestern India.
Local television footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the crash site, located in a densely populated area near the airport. Firefighters battled flames engulfing the wreckage and nearby multi-story buildings, while charred bodies were visible at the scene.
The aircraft was carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian, according to a statement from the airline. The plane was reportedly fully loaded with fuel at the time of the crash.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “devastating,” particularly as many of the passengers were British nationals. “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are heartbreaking,” he said in a statement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, called the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words,” expressing his condolences in a message on social media: “In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected.”
With input from AP
