Air India has confirmed that there was only one survivor, the British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was sat by the emergency exit. He told his relatives he had “no idea” how he escaped.

The other 241 passengers and crew on board were killed, including 52 British nationals. There are numerous other casualties who were on the ground when the plane crashed into a medical college hostel.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has started a formal investigation into the crash, with Boeing and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch sending support.

An official death toll will not be released until DNA testing is complete, the Indian interior minister said.

Amit Shah, who earlier visited the crash site and spoke to survivors in hospital, said DNA testing is under way, the BBC reported.

India’s civil aviation ministry also said the rescue operation at the crash site had ended.

By Sian Bradley

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the Briton who survived the crash, and his brother, Ajay, who was also on board and is now confirmed to have died, were “always together”, a friend has said.

Rakesh Rama, 34, knows the brothers from when they grew up on Diu, an island off India. By coincidence, Rama later moved to the same street in Leicester as the family.

“The brothers would always be together,” he said. “So I can really empathise with what Vishwash is going through.

“There’s good news that [Viswash] is alive, but we all feel desperately sad about Ajay. The family are very loving, you can just tell from how many people are here [outside the house].”

By Sian Bradley

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the crash survivor, has told family members to “find” his brother, Ajay, who is now confirmed to have died during the incident.

The two brothers were travelling together on the flight and Ramesh called his family immediately after his escape.

Nayan Kumar Ramesh, 27, the youngest of four brothers said: “He kept saying: ‘I can’t see my brother or anybody else.’ He was telling us ‘find Ajay, you must find Ajay’.”

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has started a formal investigation into the crash.

India’s civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said the government has also put together a committee of experts to examine the incident and strengthen aviation safety.

In a post on X, he said: “Following the tragic incident in Ahmedabad, a formal investigation has been initiated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, in line with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

“Additionally, the government is 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 future.”

Air India has confirmed that the British national was the sole survivor from the crash.

In an update on social media, the airline said: “We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.

“The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national. The survivor is a British national of Indian origin.

“Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones.”

It added: “Air India is giving its full co-operation to the authorities investigating this incident.”

Air India Flight 171 crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad

SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The more likely reason the Briton believed to have survived the crash was able to escape was because of where he was sitting. The layout of the Dreamliner meant 11A was a bulkhead emergency exit seat, with easy access to the door.

Which seats on a passenger plane offer the best protection will depend on the crash. However, an analysis of 35 years of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records by Time magazine in 2015 suggested that, on average, middle seats towards the back of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rates in crashes where some passengers had died and others lived.

Another study, from the University of Greenwich in 2008, indicated that being within five rows of an emergency exit can also increase survival chances, as it allows for quicker evacuation.

• Read in full: Airline safety questions answered

The UK’s foreign secretary is understood to have chaired a Cobra meeting about the crash.

David Lammy convened the meeting of senior ministers which is held to handle national emergencies, according to the PA news agency.

The plane captain’s last message was reported to have been: “Mayday … no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.”

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal’s last message came 32 seconds before the plane crashed, according to Barkha Dutt, a Washington Post columnist and founder of digital platform Mojo Story.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the Briton believed to have survived the crash, spoke to his father just after the incident, according to his younger brother.

Nayan Kumar Ramesh, 27, told Sky News he was supposed to pick up his brother from Gatwick on Thursday.

He said his father had called Vishwash just as the plane was about to take off and that he called back two minutes later, telling their father that the plane had crashed.

Medical students were having lunch when the plane landed on the canteen building, according to a doctor.

“One half of the plane crashed into the residential building where doctors lived with their families,” Krishna, a doctor who helped rescue students, told AFP. “The nose and front wheel landed on the canteen building where students were having lunch.”

Vidhi Chaudhary, a top state police officer in Ahmedabad, told AP that most of the bodies are “charred beyond recognition”.

Dhananjay Dwivedi, the principal secretary of Gujarat state’s health department, said arrangements for DNA testing were being made.

A doctor who examined the Briton who is believed to have survived the crash said he “seems to be out of danger”.

Dr Dhaval Gameti told the Associated Press that he had examined Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.

“He was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body,” he said. “But he seems to be out of danger.”

President Trump offered to help India after the “horrific crash”.

He told reporters during a White House event: “I let them know that anything we can do — we’ll be over there immediately. But it was a horrific crash.”

Rishi Sunak said he and his wife are “deeply shocked and distressed” by the incident.

In a post on X the former prime minister, whose parents are East African-born Punjabis, said: “Akshata and I are deeply shocked and distressed by the news of the Air India tragedy.

“There is a unique bond between our two nations and our thoughts and prayers go out to the British and Indian families who have lost loved ones today.”

Boeing’s chief executive said his team “stands ready to support the investigation”.

Kelly Ortberg said: “Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad.

“I have spoken with Air India chairman N [Natarajan] Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

“Boeing will defer to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to provide information about Air India flight 171, in adherence with the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organisation protocol known as annex 13.”

Some 294 people died in the crash, including people who were on the ground, local police said.

A total of 242 people were on board the plane which crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad.

“Approximately 294 have died. This includes some students as the plane crashed on the building where they were staying,” Vidhi Chaudhary, a top state police officer, told Reuters.

She said there could be more survivors in hospital.

It was 1.38pm on a clear, sunny day when an Air India flight carrying 242 people took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport in Ahmedabad, headed for London Gatwick.

On board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner were 12 crew and 230 passengers. Fifty-three passengers were British, 169 Indian, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. They were scheduled to land just before 6.30pm British time.

Shortly after the plane cleared the southern end of the runway, a mayday call came from the cockpit of Flight AI171. It was sent by the captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, a pilot with 8,200 hours of flying experience, and the first officer, Clive Kundar, who had more than 1,000. After that, it did not respond to air traffic control.

• Read in full: How Air India plane crash unfolded

Sir Keir Starmer during his statement in Downing Street after the crash

PA

Sir Keir Starmer did not confirm that a British national had survived the plane crash, saying: “We’re establishing the facts.”

The prime minister added: “I think it is important for all friends and family to contact the foreign office so we can roll out this as quickly as possible, but it is an ongoing investigation. It’ll take some time.”

He said the UK was in constant contact with Indian authorities.

Starmer added: “There will be British and Indian families across the land who are impacted and our thoughts are with them.”

The 787-8 Dreamliner crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in western India

SIDDHARAJ SOLANKI/EPA

Fresh fears over the safety of Boeing aircraft have sent shares in the aircraft manufacturer lower after the Air India disaster.

The 787-8 Dreamliner crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in western India, carrying more than 240 passengers and crew, including 53 Britons.

The tragedy has further hit confidence in Boeing, as its new chief executive battles to rebuild trust after a series of safety and production challenges.

• Read in full: Shares in Boeing fall after India crash

Family members of one of the crew members at their residence in the Indian state of Manipur

GETTY IMAGES

Air India said it was organising two relief flights to Ahmedabad for families of the passengers involved in the crash as well as airline staff.

The airline is sending return flights from Delhi and Mumbai that will arrive at 11pm local time (6.30pm BST) and depart shortly after 1am (8.30pm BST) on Friday.

The airline said: “Next of kin of passengers and staff in Delhi and Mumbai wanting to travel on these flights can call our hotline on 1800 5691 444.

“Additionally, those coming in from international destinations and wanting to travel can call our hotline on +91 8062779200.”

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the Briton who is believed to have survived the crash, was sitting next to his brother on the flight, his cousin said.

Ajay Valgi told the BBC that Ramesh had called his family and told them he was “fine”.

Valgi added that Ramesh was sitting next to his brother on the flight and that the family was waiting to find out what happened to him.

Valgi said: “At least the family is happy that he’s OK but we’re still upset about the other brother. I feel absolutely upset, he’s not just my cousin, he’s my brother, he’s my best friend as well.”

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the British citizen who is believed to have survived the crash, told his brother he had “no idea” how he escaped.

Speaking outside the family’s home in Leicester, Ramesh’s brother, Nayan, 27, said: “We were just shocked as soon as we heard it. We’re devastated, just devastated.

“He said: ‘I have no idea how I exited the plane.'”

A relative called Jay also said Ramesh spoke to his father after the crash and asked for news of his other brother, Ajay, who is believed to have also been on the plane.

Nayan Kumar Ramesh, Vishwash’s brother, at the family’s home in Leicester

TERRY HARRIS FOR THE TIMES

The Briton who is believed to have survived the crash was sitting next to an emergency exit, in seat 11A.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh’s seat was the first economy seat behind business class on the Air India Boeing 787-8. The aircraft had seven other emergency exits.

Passengers sitting by an emergency exit are usually given brief training on how to open the door so the plane can be evacuated quickly. That seat also often has extra legroom.

Emergency exits are placed throughout the cabin so passengers are never too far from one. The number and their location varies depending on the aircraft. Seat 11A is not always located by an emergency exit.

Three British people who died in the crash, including a four-year-old girl, have been named.

Gloucester Muslim Community said on Facebook that Akeel Nanabawa, his wife, Hannaa, and their four-year-old daughter, Sara, had died in the crash.

It said: “During this moment of overwhelming sorrow, our hearts go out to all those left behind.

“No words can truly ease the pain of such a profound loss, but we pray that the family may find solace in the tremendous outpouring of compassion and solidarity from communities across the world.

“May their cherished memories provide comfort, and may they rest in eternal peace.”

A video has emerged of Air India flight AI171 taking off before crashing down moments later.

The footage, captured by a CCTV camera fixed on the runway at the airport, shows the plane taking off seemingly without issue.

About 15 seconds after take off its ascent begins to slow and it starts to lose altitude and suddenly descends.

It then hits the ground and a huge explosion is seen with a thick plume of black smoke filling the air.

Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39 and his husband, Jamie Meek, 44

Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39 and his husband, Jamie Meek, 44, from London, were due to return home on the Air India flight, Meek’s brother said.

Nick Meek, a caretaker from Birmingham, said: “We were expecting him home tonight. He should have landed at 6.30pm and then driven up for about 11 to get his dog who is staying with our Mum.

“She is not in a good way. It is all very raw for her at the moment. It’s a lot to take in and we only heard this news a couple of hours ago.”

He said the couple had been in India for ten days visiting a wellness retreat.

The couple run The Wellness Foundry which provides spiritual wellness from bases in London and Ramsgate, Kent.

Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister of Gujarat, with Narendra Modi, the prime minister, in 2019

SIDDHARAJ SOLANKI/ALAMY

Among the passengers on the flight was Vijay Rupani, a former chief minister of Gujarat who led the state from 2016 to 2021, according to officials from his party.

It was said that the 68-year-old was going to London to meet members of his family.

He was a long-time member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the party of Narendra Modi, and oversaw the city’s response to the pandemic.

A state health official has confirmed that one person on board the Air India Boeing 787-8 has survived.

“Yes, one survivor is confirmed,” Dhananjay Dwivedi, the principal secretary of Gujarat state’s health department told AFP.

The survivor was being treated in hospital, he added without further details.

The survivor is believed to be Vishwash Kumar Ramesh who sustained “impact injuries” on his chest, eyes and feet. He is currently in hospital.

The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane’s tail after it crashed into a medical hostel

AMIT DAVE/REUTERS

Pilots are focusing on the configuration of the Air India aircraft as it struggled to climb away from runway 23 in Ahmedabad before running out of lift and descending to the ground.

There is so far no single line of expert speculation over the cause, with theories on aviation sites ranging from possible engine failure on the Boeing 787 to crew errors before or after take-off.

The video images show that the landing gear remained extended, which is not normal, and it appears that there may have been an issue with the wing flaps.

• Read in full: Aviation experts point to possible explanations for the crash

The British national was in seat 11A next to an emergency exit

The British national believed to be the sole survivor of the Air India crash has said he “stood up and ran” from the wreckage after realising he was alive.

The man was in seat 11A next to an emergency exit when the plane crashed. He said he only suffered “impact injuries” on his chest, eyes and feet.

The man, named by police as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, spoke to the Indian publication, Hindustan Times, about the moment the plane went down.

He said: “30 seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.

“When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.”

The site of the crash near the airport in Ahmedabad

SIDDHARAJ SOLANKI/EPA

UK officials are being deployed to India to support the investigation into the Ahmedabad crash.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said: “The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch has formally offered its assistance to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, India.

“In addition, the UK AAIB will have expert status in the Indian safety investigation. This is in accordance with Icao (International Standards and Recommended Practices) annex 13 because UK citizens were on board the aircraft.

“We are deploying a multidisciplinary investigation team to India to support the Indian-led investigation. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic accident.”

One person is believed to have survived the Air India 171 crash, police have said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai told the Times that a man by the name of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh survived.

GS Malik, the city’s police commissioner, told local media the passenger was sat in seat 11A, a bulkhead emergency exit seat by the door, according to seatguru.com.

He added that the survivor held a British passport and was currently being treated in hospital.

Tata Group, the company which has a majority stake in Air India, has said it will provide money to the families of each person who has lost their life in the crash.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chair of Air India, said about £86,000 or ten million Indian rupees will be provided to impacted families.

The company added that it will cover the medical expenses of those injured and provide support to rebuild the medical hostel that the plane crashed into.

Tata Group said: “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 (about £86,000) to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy. We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support.”

Micheál Martin, the Irish taoiseach, has expressed his condolences to those who have died in the Ahmedabad crash.

“It is horrific and very, very sad what has happened in India, the plane [crash] just shortly after departure, I believe less than a minute,” the taoiseach said. “Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families of those bereaved, crew members bereaved, and with the people of India, Britain and Canada. The world is a much closer place, we all travel.

“It is extremely sad and shocking that an accident of this scale has occurred with the loss of so much life.

“It’s not too long away from the commemoration of the Air India disaster in Ireland 50 years ago. All of us who experienced that had a sense of trauma that people go through when crashes of this kind happen.”

A family member after hearing news that her brother had died when the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad

AMIT DAVE/REUTERS

The crash of Air India flight 171 is the worst aviation disaster for British citizens since the 9/11 attacks in New York more than two decades ago.

There were no survivors on the Gatwick-bound flight, meaning more than 200 passengers and crew were killed, among them 53 Britons. Sixty-seven Britons died in the attack on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon in 2001.

The last big crash involving Britons was the downing of MH17, which was hit by a missile at 33,000ft over the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine in 2014.

• Read in full: Flight 171 crash is worst aviation disaster for Britain since 9/11

This was the first crash of a 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft came into operation in 2011. Recent concerns about Boeing aircraft have mostly related to its 737 Max line after crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed more than 300 people.

The 737 Max was grounded worldwide for more than a year afterwards. After a long investigation, aviation authorities in the UK, United States and Europe declared them fit to re-enter service.

Boeing has continued to struggle with production issues and its safety practices have faced scrutiny. Last year the company reported its second-biggest annual loss, almost $12 billion, as it dealt with a strike on its manufacturing lines.

In December 2024 a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed in South Korea, killing all but two people aboard. Authorities are still investigating what caused it to crash-land at Muan International Airport.

Regarding today’s crash, Boeing said: “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.”

Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick airport, has said: “We are very saddened to hear about today’s accident involving Air India flight AI171 and our thoughts are with the family and friends of those on board.

“We can confirm flight AI171 that was involved in an accident shortly after departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18.25 BST.

“London Gatwick is liaising closely with Air India and a reception centre for relatives of those on board is being set up where information and support will be provided.”

The airport said there were usually 12 Air India departures a week from Gatwick, including five to Ahmedabad.

In a statement on the official royal family social media accounts, the King and Queen said that their “special prayers and deepest possible sympathy” were with all those affected.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s registration number, VT-ANB, is visible on a large piece of wreckage

AMIT DAVE/REUTERS

Part of the tail section is wedged in a building

CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE/AFP

The tail fin came down in the grounds

SIDDHARAJ SOLANKI/EPA

ALAMY

“It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,” Ahmedabad’s police chief has said.

“As the plane has fallen in a residential area which also had offices, some locals would have also died,” Commissioner GS Malik said. “Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained.”

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, said: “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.”

Ahmedabad airport has reopened after Air India flight AI171 crashed shortly after take-off.

The airport authorities released a statement saying that it was “now available for flight operations from 16:05 IST onwards”.

“Flight safety protocols are being followed with utmost care.”

Gatwick airport says a reception centre will be set up for families affected by the Air India crash.

Air India has confirmed 53 British citizens were aboard, along with 169 Indian citizens, seven Portuguese citizens and a Canadian.

The flight had been due to land at Gatwick at 18:25 BST.

The airport said: “London Gatwick is liaising closely with Air India and a reception centre for relatives of those on board is being set up where information and support will be provided.”

By Ben Clatworthy

The Boeing Dreamliner has an impeccable safety record and is beloved by airlines for its quiet cabin, large windows and jet lag-busting cabin pressurisation. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner came into service in 2011 and, until today, had never crashed.

The plane is described by the US manufacturer as “the bestselling passenger widebody of all time”. More than 2,000 orders have been taken from 89 customers.

The planes have carried more than one billion passengers on almost five million flights. Air India has 34 of the aircraft in its fleet, according to aviation analysts Cirium.

Recent issues with Boeing aircraft have related to the 737 Max.

Problems have been experienced with Rolls Royce and its supply chains which provide parts for the British company’s Trent 1000 engines, which are on some aircraft. There is no indication this is the case here and it is not known what engines the Air India plane had.

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Ethiopian Airlines caught fire while parked at Heathrow airport in 2013. No passengers were aboard. An investigation found the fire was probably caused by a short circuit.

Indians have gathered outside hospitals in Ahmedabad seeking news of relatives and loved ones caught up in the Air India crash.

Poonam Patel said his sister-in-law was on the flight to London. Within an hour of hearing the news he went to the Civil Hospital. “We don’t know anything, we’ve not been allowed to enter the hospital,” he said.

A woman called Ramila said her son was in the doctors’ hostel believed to have been hit by the plane. She said he had jumped from a second floor window but was safe.

The foreign office has set up crisis teams in India and the UK to help those affected by Air India plane crash, David Lammy has said.

The foreign secretary told the House of Commons: “My thoughts and I’m sure those of the entire House are with those who’ve been affected by the tragic plane crash in India this morning.

“We know that British nationals were on board and I can confirm that the FCDO is working urgently with local authorities to support British nationals and their families, and has stood up a crisis team in both Delhi and in London.”

Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, says he is “shocked and saddened” by the crash.

The King is following the situation, Buckingham Palace has said.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on a “doctors’ hostel” in Meghani Nagar, a residential area, Indian police have said.

“The building on which it has crashed is a doctors’ hostel. We have cleared almost 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the area and will clear the rest soon,” a police officer said.

Firefighters use foam to extinguish flames in the debris

REUTERS

REUTERS

REUTERS

Sir Keir Starmer said his thoughts were with the passengers and families of those on the Air India flight bound for Gatwick which crashed in Ahmedabad.

He said: “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.

“I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time.”

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, said that the flight, a Boeing 787, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off.

The plane, which is thought to be 11 years old, crashed moments after taking off

There were 232 passengers and 12 crew members onboard and emergency teams have been activated at the airport, he said. Air India said there were 242 people on board in total.

Air India has confirmed that 53 British citizens were on board the flight heading from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick..

The airline said that flight AI171 was carrying 242 passengers and crew members.

Rescuers at the site of the crash

AJIT SOLANKI/AP

Of these 169 are Indian citizens, 53 are British citizens, 1 Canadian citizen and 7 Portuguese citizens.

“The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals,” it added.

The pilot, Sumeet Sabharwal, had 8,200 hours of flying experience, according to the directorate general of civil aviation. Indian news channels report the plane was over 11 years old.

An aviation expert has told broadcasters he believes the pilot made a mayday call before the crash. This means the crew were aware there was an issue before the incident.

A mayday call is an internationally recognised distress signal used in radio communication.

A spokesman from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport in Ahmedabad said the aiport had been shut down following the incident. All flight operations are suspended until further notice.

By Ben Clatworthy, Transport Correspondent

It is too early to say what has happened in the case of AI171 but the fact the plane crashed so quickly after take-off indicates there could be a number of factors.

Once a plane reaches the V1 point on a runway it has to take off no matter what happens because there is not enough runway left to stop. It is possible there was an issue on the runway but the pilots had to proceed. The plane crashed at 625ft.

Airline sources said there are “hundreds of factors” that could have caused the crash and it is too early to say.

The Boeing Dreamliner is a much-respected plane and one that airlines have been very pleased with since its launch more than a decade ago.

The Boeing Dreamliner that Air India was operating seats about 242 passengers. The last wide-body crash was the downing of MH17 in July 2014. It was shot down at 33,000ft over the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, by a Russian-made missile.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran

JASON ALDEN/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

Air India flight 171 has been involved in a “tragic accident” and an emergency response has been activated, the chairman of the airline has confirmed.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Air India, wrote that a support team at the airline had been set up for families seeking information.

Released by Tata Group, which owns a majority stake in the airline, the statement reads: “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.

“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.”

India’s aviation minister has said rescue teams have been mobilised to help the 242 people on board flight AI171 that crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad.

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said that he was “shocked and devastated” by the news and the government was on the “highest alert”.

Smoke rose hundreds of feet into the air after the plane crashed

X/@DRAKESH1011

“I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action,” he wrote.

“Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”

The flight was scheduled to depart Ahmadabad at 8.50am BST and scheduled arrival time at Gatwick was 6.25pm BST.

The signal from the aircraft was lost at 9.08am BST (1.08pm local time) at 625ft, less than a minute after take-off, Flight Radar 24 reported

Local police have said at least 242 people — including crew members — were on board the flight when it crashed.

Gatwick has confirmed the plane was scheduled to land at just before 6.30pm BST.

In a statement on social media, Air India confirmed Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an “incident” this morning. The company is currently “ascertaining the details”, the statement added.

An Air India plane bound for Gatwick has crashed as it was leaving the airport in India’s western city of Ahmedabad.

More than 100 people were on board the flight, local media reported.

Air India said it was working to determine what happened

The crash occurred when the aircraft was taking off. Visuals showed debris on fire, with thick black smoke rising up into the sky near the airport.