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An Air India flight to London with 242 people on board, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew members, crashed Thursday shortly after takeoff from an airport in the western Indian state of Gujarat, officials said.
"Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals," Air India said.
BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a message of condolence to Britain's King Charles III over the heavy British casualties caused by the crash of an Air India flight.
In his message, Xi expressed shock upon learning of the crash of an Air India flight, which caused heavy British casualties.
Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed deep condolences to the victims, conveyed sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured, and wished the injured an early recovery.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolence to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping extended on Friday condolences to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi respectively over the heavy casualties caused by the crash of an Air India flight.
In his message, Xi expressed shock upon learning that the crash had caused heavy casualties. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he conveyed deep condolences over the loss of lives, extended sympathies to the injured and the bereaved families, and wished the injured a swift recovery.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolence to Modi.
NEW DELHI -- The Indian government has launched a formal investigation into Thursday's tragic Air India plane crash, confirmed the country's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu in a social media post.
According to the latest media reports, a total of 265 dead bodies had already been brought to a local government hospital in Ahmedabad city, where the plane crash had taken place.
Among the dead were 241 people onboard the ill-fated Boeing aircraft, while the rest of the casualties took place on the ground.
The formal probe was initiated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, in line with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, announced the federal minister.
He added that the Indian government was also constituting a high-level committee comprising experts from multiple disciplines to examine the matter in detail.
"The committee will work to strengthen aviation safety and prevent such incidents in the future," posted the minister on X.
A black box in the rear of the aircraft was found, according to local media reports.
Meanwhile, the country's civil aviation authorities were expected to take a few days before announcing the final death toll in this year's worst-ever tragedy in India, as DNA tests were to be conducted to identify the victims.
Air India posted on its social media that the sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.
The flight had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian, apart from two pilots and 10 cabin crew members on board when it crashed at the premises of a medical college.
"We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital," Air India said in a statement. "The survivor is a British national of Indian origin."
The airline said it offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and was giving full cooperation to the authorities in the investigation of the crash.
The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft bearing number AI171 immediately after takeoff went down at an altitude of 825 feet and crashed on the premises of B J Medical College, causing severe damage to the buildings.
A video of the aircraft flying low and struggling to gain altitude shows the plane going down and exploding in a massive ball of fire. Parts of the plane were scattered all around the premises.
According to the Federation of All India Medical Associations Doctors Association, one person was killed, while at least five medical students and four relatives of resident doctors are reported missing, besides 50 others injured at the premises of B J Medical College.
Indian multinational conglomerate -- Tata Group, which owns Air India, said it will give a compensation of 10 million rupees (116,854 US dollars) to the families of each person who was killed in the plane crash.
NEW DELHI -- Aviation authorities have found one of the two black boxes of the Air India flight that crashed in the western Indian state of Gujarat, killing 241 on board, local newspaper Hindustan Times said.
The London-bound flight crashed on Thursday afternoon shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
"Of the two black boxes, the one in the rear of the aircraft has been located and safely guarded. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will collect the equipment to analyze the recordings. The second black box, in the aircraft's front portion, is yet to be found," the newspaper quoting a source said.
Black boxes are electronic data recorders in the aircraft. The bright orange or yellow rectangular boxes are designed to withstand high-speed crashes, explosions, fire and water pressure.
Experts said the answer to what went wrong for Air India Flight 171 may lie in these small machines. It contains flight and cockpit recordings, and flight data, which can help investigators to understand the reason behind the plane crash. However, it takes days to analyze the data.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian, apart from two pilots and 10 cabin crew members on board when it crashed at the premises of a medical college.
Air India on Friday confirmed the crash killed 241 passengers on board, and the only survivor in the incident is being treated in a hospital.
The Indian government's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has initiated a formal investigation into the crash.
Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg said he has spoken with Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran following the crash and expressed readiness to support the investigation by Indian authorities.
The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft bearing number AI171 went down after takeoff at an altitude of 825 feet and crashed on the premises of B J Medical College, causing severe damage to the buildings.
According to the Federation of All India Medical Associations Doctors Association, one person was killed, while at least five medical students and four relatives of resident doctors were reported missing, and 50 others were injured at the premises of B J Medical College.
An Air India passenger plane bound for London with more than 240 people on board crashed on Thursday afternoon shortly after takeoff from an airport in western India, and officials said there was only one known survivor.
Flight AI171 departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat at 1:38 pm, and was due to arrive at Gatwick Airport in London at 6:25 pm local time.
Video footage on Indian news channels showed the plane crashing minutes after takeoff into a populated area right outside the airport. The airline said the flight was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian citizen, it said.
Indian media reports said the plane — a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner — crashed on top of a medical college hostel. Visuals showed the tail cone of the plane, with damaged stabilizer fins still attached, lodged atop a building. Reports said at least five medical students were killed and around 50 injured.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is from Gujarat, said he was stunned and saddened by the tragedy. "It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it," he said in a social media post.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scenes of the crash devastating. "I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families," he said.
The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane, which entered commercial service in 2011. This is the first crash ever involving this aircraft model, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
Boeing's shares tumbled on Thursday. The company said in a statement it stands ready to support Air India and is in contact with the airline. "Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected," it said.
NEW DELHI -- A minister in the Indian government has confirmed the killing of former Gujarat chief minister and a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vijay Rupani in Thursday's London-bound Air India flight crash in the western state.
This seems to be the first official confirmation of the death in the Air India flight with 242 people on board that crashed immediately after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
As per Air India, there were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on board at the time of the crash, besides two pilots and 10 cabin crew members.
"Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going to meet his family. He is also a victim in this incident. This is a big loss for the BJP," C R Patil, India's federal water resources minister told reporters.
The 68-year-old Rupani was the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat and served the state from August 2016 to September 2021.
NEW DELHI -- Indian multinational conglomerate Tata Group, which owns Air India, said it will provide a compensation of 10 million rupees (around $116,854) to the families of each person who was killed in Thursday's plane crash in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
It also announced that it will bear the cost of the medical expenses of those injured and pledged to provide support for rebuilding the medical hostel that was hit in the crash.
"We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171. No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured. Tata Group will provide 1 crore Indian rupees (10 million Indian rupees) to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy," N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, said in a statement.
"We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support. Additionally, we will provide support in the building up of the B J Medical's hostel. We remain steadfast in standing with the affected families and communities during this unimaginable time."
The London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board crashed at the premises of a medical college immediately after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
According to the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) Doctors Association, one person was killed, while at least seven are reported missing, besides 50 others injured at the premises of B J Medical College, where the flight crashed, causing severe damage to the buildings.
In pictures from the crash site, scattered plates and utensils can be seen lying on the tables in the hostel canteen, indicating that medical students were having lunch at the time of the crash.
The chief executive of Air India, Campbell Wilson, expresses "deep sorrow" following the plane crash.
"This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones," he said in a video statement posted on social media.
"Investigations will take time, but anything we can do now, we are doing," he said.
Air India has announced two special relief flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Ahmedabad for the next of kin of passengers and Air India staff affected by the tragic plane crash.
While authorities are not releasing the figures of the death toll in the crash, India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a press briefing that a lot of people have lost their lives in the plane crash.
A video of the aircraft flying low and struggling to gain altitude shows the plane going down and exploding in a massive ball of fire.
Other videos from the site show thick columns of black smoke rising from the ground.
NEW DELHI -- One passenger onboard the ill-fated plane that crashed in west India was rescued alive after several hours had lapsed since the tragedy occurred, confirmed a top cop on Thursday.
However, the identity of the lone survivor could not be ascertained yet.
"The police found one survivor in seat 11A. The survivor is under treatment. Cannot say anything about the number of deaths yet. The death toll may increase as the flight crashed in a residential area," media reports quoted Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik as saying.
The Air India flight had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on board when it crashed shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
There were also 12 cabin crew members on board.
NEW DELHI -- One person was killed, at least seven people are reported missing, and 50 others injured at the premises of B J Medical College in the western Indian state of Gujarat, where an Air India flight with 242 people on board crashed Thursday, a doctor association said.
"Fifty 50 MBBS students admitted (Stable), 4-5 students missing, 2-3 critical in High Dependency Unit/Intensive Care Unit (HDU/ICU), 3-4 relatives of resident doctors missing. Wife of one super-specialist doctor found dead," reads a brief statement posted on social media by the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) Doctors Association.
FAIMA is a national body that represents Resident Doctors' Associations in India.
Senior local government official in Gujarat Dhananjay Dwivedi told the media that about 50 injured people from the college premises have been brought to the civil hospital in Ahmedabad.
The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed immediately after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
The flight, heading for London, departed at 13:38 p.m. local time but went down at an altitude of 825 feet and crashed on the premises of B J Medical College, causing severe damage to the buildings.
Parts of the plane were seen scattered all around the premises.
Meanwhile, one passenger onboard the ill-fated plane was rescued alive after several hours had lapsed since the tragedy occurred, confirmed a top cop on Thursday. Earlier report said all people on board the crashed plane were killed.
However, the identity of the lone survivor could not be ascertained yet.
Media reports quoted the cop as saying that the passenger sitting on seat number 11A was found alive, and had been admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Boeing on Thursday said the company is in contact with Air India regarding the Flight 171 crash in India.
"We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected," said the company in a statement.
This is the first crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
An Air India flight to London with 242 people on board, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew members, crashed Thursday shortly after takeoff from an airport in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
According to Air India, the aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 13:38 local time (0738 GMT).
NEW DELHI -- India's foreign ministry said a lot of people have lost their lives in Thursday's plane crash with 242 people on board an Air India flight to London in the western state of Gujarat.
The Air India flight had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on board when it crashed shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
There were also 12 cabin crew members on board.
The ministry, however, has not put out an exact figure on the death toll in the plane crash.
"What has happened in Ahmedabad is a very tragic accident. We have lost a lot of people. We extend our deepest condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones. There are several foreigners. You will receive the updates from the relevant departments?— Ministry of Civil Aviation, Air India, and others. That is the latest I can share. It is an evolving situation. The rescue operations are on. We need to wait a little more time for exact details to be put out," India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing.
Local media reports said that there are no survivors from the ill-fated plane.
A video of the aircraft flying low and struggling to gain altitude shows the plane going down and exploding in a massive ball of fire.
Other videos from the site show thick columns of black smoke rising from the ground.
According to police, the plane crashed directly on the B J Medical College undergraduate hostel mess in Meghani Nagar. The crash caused severe damage to buildings on the premises and several people were reported to be injured.
A part of the crashed plane landed atop a student hostel, eyewitnesses said.
Immediately after the crash, authorities rushed fire engines and over two dozen ambulances to the spot to carry out rescue work.
Police have diverted traffic from the area, and a green corridor has also been established to ferry the injured quickly to the hospital.
Air India has expressed condolences to the families of all those affected by this devastating event. The airline has changed its logo on social media handles to black after the deadly plane crash.
The British government has issued a travel advisory, saying they were aware of the plane crash in Ahmedabad.
"We are aware of a plane crash in Ahmedabad. The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved," reads the advisory.
Reports said former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was onboard the crashed flight. Web check-in documents obtained by local media said Rupani had completed his check-in in business class on the ill-fated flight.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the plane crash incident as a tragedy and heartbreaking beyond words.
"The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected," Modi wrote on social media.
Meanwhile, world leaders have expressed condolences to the families of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Thursday's Air India plane crash incident with 242 people, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew members, on board in the western state of Gujarat as a tragedy and heartbreaking beyond words.
The Air India flight to London had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on board when it crashed shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
"The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected," Modi wrote on social media.
Local media reports said that there are no survivors from the ill-fated plane, while officials, so far, have not issued any statement on the number of casualties in the crash.
A video of the aircraft flying low and struggling to gain altitude shows the plane going down and exploding in a massive ball of fire.
Other videos from the site show thick columns of black smoke rising from the ground.
According to police, the plane crashed directly on the B J Medical College undergraduate hostel mess in Meghani Nagar. The crash caused severe damage to buildings on the premises and several people were reported to be injured.
A part of the crashed plane landed atop a student hostel, eyewitnesses said.
Immediately after the crash, authorities rushed fire engines and over two dozen ambulances to the spot to carry out rescue work.
Police have diverted traffic from the area, and a green corridor has also been established to ferry the injured quickly to the hospital.
Air India has expressed condolences to the families of all those affected by this devastating event. The airline has changed its logo on social media handles to black after the deadly plane crash.
The British government has issued a travel advisory, saying they were aware of the plane crash in Ahmedabad.
"We are aware of a plane crash in Ahmedabad. The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved," reads the advisory.
Reports said former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was onboard the crashed flight. Web check-in documents obtained by local media said Rupani had completed his check-in in business class on the ill-fated flight.
All people on board Air India crashed plane dead, say local media reports.
Shares of planemaker Boeing fell nearly 8 percent in premarket US trading on Thursday after an Air India aircraft with 242 people crashed minutes after taking off from India's western city of Ahmedabad.
India's federal health minister said "many people" were killed in the crash. The plane was headed to Gatwick Airport in the UK, with police officers saying it crashed in a civilian area near the Ahmedabad airport.
Aviation tracking site Flightradar24 said the plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most modern passenger aircraft in service.
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. Boeing said in a statement it was aware of initial reports and was working to gather more information.
Boeing's 787 is a newer series of jets with a solid safety record and no fatal crashes. While battery issues once grounded the fleet, no injuries were reported.
The news comes as the planemaker tries to rebuild trust related to safety in its jets and ramp up production under new Chief Executive Officer Kelly Orthberg.
Boeing's shares were down about 7.5 percent at $197.82 in premarket trading.
Reuters
Senior police officer confirms at least 110 dead in Air India plane crash: local media reports.
AHMEDABAD, India — Air India says its London-bound flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport Thursday included people from India, Britain, Portugal and Canada.
The airline said the flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew overall. Indian officials had previously said 244 were on board.
Of those, Air India said there were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian.
Visuals on local television channels showed smoke billowing from the crash site near the airport in Ahmedabad, a northwestern city with a population of more than 5 million.
India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support at the site.
"We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation," he said.
The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the flightradar24 website.
AP
NEW DELHI -- An Air India flight to London with 242 people on board, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew members, crashed Thursday shortly after takeoff from an airport in the western Indian state of Gujarat, officials said.
The flight took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
According to Air India, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 13:38 local time and was carrying 242 passengers and crew members.
"Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals," the airline said.
Air India has expressed condolences to the families of all those affected by this devastating event.
"With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event," N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Air India, said in a statement.
Chandrasekaran said further updates will be shared as they receive more verified information.
"An emergency center has been activated and support teams have been set up for families seeking information," he further said.
Local media reports said the plane had reached approximately 825 feet when it suddenly descended. Police said the plane crashed on the building of a doctors' hostel.
There were no reports of any survivors currently, and officials, so far, have not issued any statement on the number of casualties or injured in the crash.
"As per preliminary information, a London-bound Air India flight has crashed at the doctors' hostel. Within 2-3 minutes, police and other agencies reached the spot. Almost 70-80 percent of the area has been cleared. All agencies are working here," a police official told media.
Reports said the passenger aircraft went down in the Meghani area of the city.
According to officials, immediately after the crash, authorities rushed over two dozen ambulances to the spot to carry out rescue work.
Video footage from the site aired on television news channels shows thick columns of smoke rising from the ground.
Police have diverted traffic from the area, and a green corridor has also been established to ferry the injured quickly to the hospital.
