Air India crash: One British passenger survives as plane carrying 242 people crashes near India airport
Air India has confirmed that 53 British nationals were on board a plan that crashed in India soon after take-off, having been bound for London Gatwick airport.
At least 200 people have been killed after an Air India plane flying to London crashed just seconds after take-off in a spectacular fireball, as one British survivor reportedly said he had “no idea” how he escaped the aircraft.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which was carrying 242 people, including 53 British nationals, crashed into a medical college near Ahmedabad International Airport in India on Thursday morning.
Air India said there were also 169 Indian nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals on the plane. The flight had been destined for London Gatwick airport.
Images of the aftermath of the crash showed apocalyptic scenes, with parts of the plane embedded into BJ Medical College as firefighters continued to tackle the smoke. Pieces of the aircraft’s landing gear, fuselage and tail could all be seen protruding from the building.
British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, is believed to be the only survivor of the crash.
Speaking outside the family home in Leicester, his brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, 27, said: “We were just shocked as soon as we heard it. I last spoke to him yesterday morning. We’re devastated, just devastated.
“He said ‘I have no idea how I exited the plane’.”
According to the Hindustan Times, Mr Ramesh said after the crash: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”
Three Britons who died in the crash were named by the Gloucester Muslim Community on Facebook as Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa and their four-year-old daughter Sara. Downing Street said the public should be prepared for a significant loss of British lives.
Local police chiefs said 204 bodies had been recovered as of Thursday night.
Divyansh Singh, vice president of the Federation of All India Medical Association, said at least five medical students had been killed and about 50 were injured after the plane hit the college.
The Reuters news agency reported 217 adults and 11 children were on board the flight. Gatwick said a reception centre was being set up for relatives of passengers on board the Air India flight.
It is the first crash involving a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
A video of the crash circulating online showed the aircraft flying over a residential area before disappearing behind trees, followed by a huge explosion and large plumes of black smoke.
Sir Keir Starmer described the scenes as “devastating”. The Prime Minister confirmed a UK team investigation team had been dispatched to India, as he 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.
“But you know, our hearts and our thoughts are absolutely with the friends and families of all those affected who are going to be absolutely devastated by this awful news.”
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi described the crash as “heart-breaking beyond words”.
Boeing president and chief executive Kelly Ortberg said in a statement her thoughts were with the victims. "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," she said.
“I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.”
Mr Ortberg said Boeing would defer to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to provide information about Air India Flight 171.
Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, said it would provide ten million rupees (around £86,000) to the families of those who were killed in the crash.
The company said it would also cover the medical costs of those injured and provide support in the “building up” of the medical college the plane crashed into.
First Minister John Swinney said he watched the events in India with “absolute horror” as he urged Scots who believed a family member was on the flight to contact the Foreign Office.
Speaking in Holyrood on Thursday, the First Minister said: “I feel enormous sympathy for everyone who’s affected by this situation. There are, of course, a number of British nationals on the flight, a sizable number.
“We are obviously in touch with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about any implications for families in Scotland, but it’s absolutely terrifying circumstances to witness, my heart goes out to everyone affected.
“I would encourage anyone who’s concerned about a loved one who may have been on that flight to contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and of course we will do all that we can to support families in Scotland.”
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, said the flight had crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off. There were 12 crew members onboard, he said.
Campbell Wilson, the chief executive of Air India, expressed his “deep sorrow” after the incident, adding: “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.”
Air India chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran described the incident as a “tragic accident” and a “devastating event”.
Flightradar24, the tracking website, said the final signal received from the aircraft had come when it was 190m in the air, "just seconds after take off". The plane then started to descend at a rate of 475 feet per minute.
The flight was scheduled to depart Ahmedabad International Airport ay 9.50am local time, and arrive at London Gatwick Airport at 6:25pm local time.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has stood up a crisis team in India and the UK, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.
Air India was acquired by Tata Group from the Indian government in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline’s UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
The airline started operating flights to Gatwick in March 2023, with 12 weekly departures and five weekly departures to Ahmedabad.
Gatwick said there was no impact on wider flight operations at the airport, but a Thursday evening flight to Goa had been cancelled.
Recent analysis found Air India was the worst airline for delays to flights from UK airports last year, with planes taking off by an average of more than 45 minutes later than scheduled.
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