King Charles calls Air India plane crash that killed 242 people 'desperately shocking'
The King has said he is "desperately shocked" as it's reported a total of 242 individuals were on the plane, which includes two pilots and 10 crew members
King Charles has expressed his profound distress following the Air India plane crash that occurred earlier today.
The monarch relayed that he was "desperately shocked" by the devastating event, which unfolded when Air India flight AI171 met with disaster shortly after departing from Ahmedabad airport.
This sombre news arrives amid reports that the aircraft held 242 individuals — including 53 UK nationals — at the time its unfortunate journey to London-Gatwick ended in tragedy.
King Charles declared: "My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning.
"Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones.", reported Birmingham Live.
"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."
In the wake of the catastrophe, over 100 bodies have been transported to medical facilities after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a residential area. The plane hit BJ Medical College in Meghani Nagar at a time when many student doctors were reportedly eating their lunch in the dining room.
Reports indicate that the ill-fated aircraft embarked on its journey at 1.39pm local time — originally scheduled to land at Gatwick at 6.25pm BST. However, soon after takeoff, it collided with the doctors' hostel, disclosed Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director-general of civil aviation, to AP.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following the tragic incident where at least two dozen ambulances reportedly attended. It's been revealed that from the 242 individuals travelling on board, 11 were children.
The airline involved provided specifics about those who were on the ill-fated flight in an announcement: "Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off."
According to Air India's statement: "The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals."
Efforts to care for the wounded are ongoing, with those affected being transported to nearby hospitals. For further information, Air India has established a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444.
In its cooperation with investigators delving into the cause of the crash, Air India pledged: "Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident. Air India will release further information via regular updates on its X handle (https://x.com/airindia) and on http://airindia.com."
Sadly, the latest reports reveal a very bleak outcome, as highlighted by a local police chief's comments to The Associated Press. Commissioner GS Malik stated: "It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash," and he noted the potential for additional loss as the aircraft came down within a densely populated area comprising of residential and office spaces: "some locals would have also died."
He concluded by indicating that accurate casualty figures are still being confirmed: "Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained."
After a halt in flights due to the incident — Ahmedabad Airport announced on X that it has resumed service with "limited flight operations."
The airport stated: "Ahmedabad Airport is now operational with limited flight operations."
They also announced: "Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight schedules. Stay tuned to our official channels for real-time updates."
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The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
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Wales Online
31 minutes ago
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Air India Flight 171 pilots named as desperate final message sent before crash
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Telegraph
32 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Student missed Air India flight because she was stuck in traffic
A British student who was meant to be on the doomed Air India plane missed the flight because of a traffic jam. Bhumi Chauhan, who lives in London, said she had arrived at the airport in Ahmedabad 10 minutes too late to board the flight to Gatwick and pleaded with staff to let her on. She told NDTV: 'I got late because I was stuck in traffic. I was upset [after being denied boarding], and reached the airport exit when I learnt the plane had crashed. My Ganpati ji [a deity in Hinduism] saved me. 'I was getting ready to step out of the airport when I learnt about the crash. I began shivering. My legs started trembling. I felt numb for quite some time.' Ms Bhumi, a business student at the University of Gloucester, added: 'The flight was scheduled to take off at 1.10pm. The boarding procedure was over at 12.10pm and I reached it at 12.20pm. 'I had reached the checking-in gate and requested them to allow me to board the flight. I told them I shall clear all the formalities quickly, but they did not allow me to proceed.' Ms Chauhan's mother said: 'We thank God for protecting my daughter. She left her child with me, and it's all because of God's blessings – because of that child, she is with me. By God's grace, she returned home safely.' The plane crashed into a residential area of Ahmedabad within seconds of take-off, killing at least 265 people on board and on the ground. Of the 242 passengers and crew, one man, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was returning to his family home in Leicester, miraculously survived. On Friday, Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, met Mr Ramesh, a 40-year-old who had been in seat 11A, next to one of the aircraft's emergency exits, when the crash happened.
