At least 200 killed after Air India flight to London Gatwick crashes near Ahmedabad
At least 200 people have been killed after an Air India flight bound for London crashed near Ahmedabad in north west India.
The flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members to London Gatwick Airport.
Ahmedabad’s police chief told the BBC that 204 bodies had been recovered from the crash site. It is not yet known whether all of the 204 were on the plane or on the ground when the plane crashed into a residential area.
It is understood one passenger, a British national in seat 11A, miraculously survived, contradicting a prior statement from local police that everyone on board had been killed.
Ahmedabad’s Police Commissioner said: “My earlier statement was misquoted. One individual has been found alive. They are in critical condition and are currently undergoing treatment in hospital. Doctors are closely monitoring their status.”
Air India has confirmed 53 British nationals were on the flight, alongside 169 Indian nationals, one Canadian and seven Portuguese.
In a statement on Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said “the scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating”.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the plane crash was “heartbreaking beyond words… The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us.”
“In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it.”
Air India’s chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said that Air India Flight 171 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,” he said.
“At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.
“We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.
“Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families seeking information.”
Commons leader Lucy Powell said: “The thoughts of the whole House and the Government will be with the families of those traveling on flight AI171 from Ahmedabad in India to London, Gatwick, which has reportedly crashed.
“This is an unfolding story, and it will undoubtedly be causing a huge amount of worry and concern to the many, many families and communities here and those waiting for the arrival of their loved ones.
“We send our deepest sympathy and thoughts to all those families, and the government will provide all the support that it can with those in India on those in this country as well.”
