FLASH
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An Air India plane bound for London (Gatwick), with 242 people on board, crashed near Ahmedabad airport in India, a few minutes after takeoff.
Among the passengers were 53 British citizens.
Footage shows a huge explosion of fire and thick clouds of black smoke rising into the sky in a residential area near the airport, in the city of Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat.
According to Air India, flight AI171, which departed Ahmedabad for London at 1:38 p.m. local time, had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese and 1 Canadian on board.
There is still no confirmed data on the number of victims or survivors, while search and rescue operations continue at the scene.
In an official statement, the company said: “The injured are being transported to the nearest hospitals.”
Ahmedabad airport announced the suspension of all flights until further notice after the plane crashed "shortly after takeoff, outside the airport area."
According to Gatwick Airport, the flight was scheduled to arrive in London at 6:25pm UK time on Thursday.
Flight tracking website Flightradar reported that the signal from the plane was lost less than a minute after takeoff.
This is the first-ever accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The model, a wide-body, twin-engine jet, has flown more than 5 million times in the 14 years since its first commercial flight.
The UK Foreign Office stated: “We are working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved.”
The instruction for British citizens who need consular assistance is to call: 020 7008 5000.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on the X platform: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has shocked and saddened us. It is painful beyond words. My thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster.”
Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said: "I am shocked and devastated by the news of the crash. We are on high alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have ordered all emergency and aviation agencies to act with speed and coordination."
Rescue teams have been mobilized and are providing medical assistance and emergency support at the scene.
Aviation expert Julian Bray, speaking to Sky News, confirmed that the pilot had made an emergency call (mayday) before the crash, which indicates that the crew was aware of a problem.
Air India, which was acquired by the Tata Group in January 2022, operates over 8,300 flights per week to 312 destinations, with a fleet of 300 aircraft.
The company's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, called the incident a "tragic accident" and "a devastating event," adding: "At this time, our priority is to support all those affected and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist emergency teams and ensure the necessary care for those affected."
Boeing said: "We are aware of the initial reports and are working to gather more information."
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