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| What we know after Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London crashes | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| An Air India passenger plane bound for London Gatwick crashed shortly after taking off in Ahmedabad on Thursday, leaving at least 204 people dead. | An Air India passenger plane bound for London Gatwick crashed shortly after taking off in Ahmedabad on Thursday, leaving at least 204 people dead. |
| The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew when it was involved in what the airline has called a "tragic accident" in the city in western India. | The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew when it was involved in what the airline has called a "tragic accident" in the city in western India. |
| Ahmedabad's police chief told the BBC that 204 bodies had been recovered, while 41 people were being treated for injuries. | Ahmedabad's police chief told the BBC that 204 bodies had been recovered, while 41 people were being treated for injuries. |
| He earlier told news agencies there appeared to be no survivors from the crash, and that some local people would also have died given where the plane came down. | He earlier told news agencies there appeared to be no survivors from the crash, and that some local people would also have died given where the plane came down. |
| Details are still emerging from the scene. Here is what we know so far. | Details are still emerging from the scene. Here is what we know so far. |
| Follow live updates on this story | Follow live updates on this story |
| When and where did the plane crash? | |
| Air India flight AI171 left Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT), Air India said. | Air India flight AI171 left Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT), Air India said. |
| It was scheduled to land at London Gatwick at 18:25 BST. | It was scheduled to land at London Gatwick at 18:25 BST. |
| The plane crashed on departure from Ahmedabad - where all operations have since been suspended. | The plane crashed on departure from Ahmedabad - where all operations have since been suspended. |
| The site of the crash in Ahmedabad | The site of the crash in Ahmedabad |
| According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the signal from the aircraft was lost "less than a minute after take-off". | According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the signal from the aircraft was lost "less than a minute after take-off". |
| Flight tracking data ends with the plane at an altitude of 625ft (190m). | Flight tracking data ends with the plane at an altitude of 625ft (190m). |
| The plane gave a mayday call to air traffic control, India's aviation regulator said. No response was given by the aircraft after that. | The plane gave a mayday call to air traffic control, India's aviation regulator said. No response was given by the aircraft after that. |
| It crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar. Police told ANI news agency that it had crashed into a doctors' hostel. | It crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar. Police told ANI news agency that it had crashed into a doctors' hostel. |
| One woman at the scene told ANI that her son jumped from the second floor of the hostel, sustaining injuries, when the plane crashed there. | One woman at the scene told ANI that her son jumped from the second floor of the hostel, sustaining injuries, when the plane crashed there. |
| Verified footage taken in central Ahmedabad showed huge plumes of black smoke in the sky. | Verified footage taken in central Ahmedabad showed huge plumes of black smoke in the sky. |
| The BBC's Roxy Gagdekar said people near the scene were running to "save as many lives as possible". | The BBC's Roxy Gagdekar said people near the scene were running to "save as many lives as possible". |
| He said emergency services were involved in a rescue operation and trying to extinguish a fire, and described seeing bodies being taken from the area. | He said emergency services were involved in a rescue operation and trying to extinguish a fire, and described seeing bodies being taken from the area. |
| Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a press briefing that "we have lost a lot of people". | Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a press briefing that "we have lost a lot of people". |
| Ahmedabad's police chief GS Malik told the BBC 204 people had died and 41 were injured. | Ahmedabad's police chief GS Malik told the BBC 204 people had died and 41 were injured. |
| It is not known if those 204 were all on the plane, or were on the ground when the plane crashed. | It is not known if those 204 were all on the plane, or were on the ground when the plane crashed. |
| He earlier said there appeared to be "no survivors" from the crash and "some locals" will also have died given where the plane came down. | He earlier said there appeared to be "no survivors" from the crash and "some locals" will also have died given where the plane came down. |
| Warning: the following clip contains distressing footage. | Warning: the following clip contains distressing footage. |
| Footage shows moments before Air India crash | Footage shows moments before Air India crash |
| Who was on board? | Who was on board? |
| There were 242 passengers and crew members on board, according to Air India. | There were 242 passengers and crew members on board, according to Air India. |
| Among the passengers were 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals. | Among the passengers were 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals. |
| The aircraft - a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner - had a total of 256 seats on board. | The aircraft - a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner - had a total of 256 seats on board. |
| An "emergency centre has been activated" and a support team put in place for families seeking information, Air India's chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said. | |
| Gatwick Airport said a reception centre for relatives of passengers was being set up, where information would be provided, and that it was liaising closely with Air India. | |
| It said on X: "British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 0207 008 5000." | |
| What do we know about the plane? | What do we know about the plane? |
| The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, and the Air India crash is the first time it has come down like this. | The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, and the Air India crash is the first time it has come down like this. |
| The model was launched 14 years ago. Just six weeks ago, Boeing lauded the fact that it had reached the milestone of carrying one billion passengers. | The model was launched 14 years ago. Just six weeks ago, Boeing lauded the fact that it had reached the milestone of carrying one billion passengers. |
| Air India operates a fleet of more than 190 planes including 58 Boeing aircraft, according to its website. | Air India operates a fleet of more than 190 planes including 58 Boeing aircraft, according to its website. |
| In a statement, 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." | In a statement, 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." |
| What have the airline and authorities said? | What have the airline and authorities said? |
| Air India confirmed on X that the flight was "involved in an accident today after take-off". | Air India confirmed on X that the flight was "involved in an accident today after take-off". |
| It said it was fully co-operating with authorities investigating the crash and would provide further updates and has set up a dedicated passenger hotline to provide further information: 1800 5691 444 | It said it was fully co-operating with authorities investigating the crash and would provide further updates and has set up a dedicated passenger hotline to provide further information: 1800 5691 444 |
| The airline's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said in a statement: "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." | The airline's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said in a statement: "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." |
| A spokesperson for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport said all operations had been suspended until further notice, and they advised passengers to check with their airline before travelling to the airport. | A spokesperson for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport said all operations had been suspended until further notice, and they advised passengers to check with their airline before travelling to the airport. |
| India's aviation minister said he had directed "all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action". | India's aviation minister said he had directed "all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action". |
| Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjaparu added on X: "Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site." | Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjaparu added on X: "Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site." |
| Officials have been instructed to carry out "immediate rescue and relief operations" and to make arrangements on a "war footing," the chief minister of Gujarat said. | |
| How have India and the UK reacted? | How have India and the UK reacted? |
| India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "stunned and saddened" by the crash. | India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "stunned and saddened" by the crash. |
| "It is heartbreaking beyond words," he said in a statement on X, adding he had been in touch with officials assisting those affected. | "It is heartbreaking beyond words," he said in a statement on X, adding he had been in touch with officials assisting those affected. |
| UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer said the scenes emerging from Ahmedabad were "devastating". | UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer said the scenes emerging from Ahmedabad were "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," he said. | "I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time," he said. |
| Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK was working with local authorities in India to "urgently establish the facts" and provide support. | Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK was working with local authorities in India to "urgently establish the facts" and provide support. |
| The King said he and Queen Camilla were "desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning" and extended his sympathy to those affected. | The King said he and Queen Camilla were "desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning" and extended his sympathy to those affected. |
| He said in a statement: "I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time." | He said in a statement: "I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time." |
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