Ahmedabad horror: London-bound Air India plane with 52 British nationals crashes; UK PM Keir Starmer calls it ‘devastating'
UK PM Keir Starmer issues statement on Air India plane crash
NEW DELHI:
UK Prime Minister
Keir Starmer issued a statement after an
Air India
plane, with 52 British nationals onboard, crashed soon after takeoff in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city.
Air India crash 'devastating', thoughts with passengers, families, he said, in a statement, quoted by AFP.
"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.," Starmer said in a statement, posted on X.
Other UK officials also issued a statement, expressing their shock and support. Secretary of state for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy said, "Deeply saddened by news of a devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad, India.
My thoughts are with all those affected. The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support."
The British High Commission in India also said that they're in touch with local authorities. "We are aware that a flight from Ahmedabad to London has crashed near Ahmedabad airport. We are working with local authorities to urgently establish the facts and provide support. Our thoughts are with all those affected," it said in a post on X.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
32 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Iran launches fresh wave of attacks on Israel, air raid sirens sound
Iran struck Israel early Saturday with barrages of missiles after a massive onslaught targeted the Islamic republic's nuclear and military facilities, and killed several top generals. Air raid sirens and explosions rang out across Israel overnight, with its military calling on residents to take refuge in bomb shelters Saturday morning. The Israeli military said dozens of missiles -- some intercepted -- had been fired in the latest salvos from Iran. Smoke was billowing above skyscrapers in downtown Tel Aviv, an AFP journalist reported, as Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it had attacked dozens of targets in Israel. Israel's firefighting service said its teams were responding to the aftermath of Iranian missile strikes, including working to rescue people trapped in a high-rise building. Rescuers said 34 people had been wounded in the Gush Dan area, including a woman who later died of her injuries, according to Israeli media reports. Resident Chen Gabizon told AFP he ran to an underground shelter after receiving an alert notification. "After a few minutes, we just heard a very big explosion, everything was shaking, smoke, dust, everything was all over the place," he said. In Iran's capital Tehran early Saturday, fire and heavy smoke billowed from Mehrabad airport, an AFP journalist said, as local media reported a blast in the area. Iran said earlier it had activated its air-defence system and explosions could be heard across the capital. Dozens of people took to the streets of Tehran overnight to cheer their country's military response, with some waving national flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans. Iran's ambassador to the UN said Friday that 78 people had been killed and 320 wounded in the first wave of strikes by Israel. After a day of back-and-forth bombardments, UN chief Antonio Guterres called for the two nations to cease fire. "Enough escalation. Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail," he wrote on X late Friday. US officials said they were helping Israel defend against the missile attacks, even as Washington insisted it had nothing to do with Israel's strikes on Iran. US President Donald Trump agreed on a call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that "dialogue and diplomacy" were needed to calm the crisis, Starmer's office said. Trump also spoke with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday, US officials said, without elaborating. Iran's missile salvo came hours after Israel said its widespread air raids had killed several top Iranian generals, including most of the senior leadership of the Revolutionary Guards' air force. It had launched several rounds of strikes that hit about 200 targets including nuclear facilities and air bases. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to bring Israel "to ruin" during a televised address. In Israel, Netanyahu issued a statement calling on the Iranian public to unite against their own government. But he also warned more attacks were coming. "In the past 24 hours, we have taken out top military commanders, senior nuclear scientists, the Islamic regime's most significant enrichment facility and a large portion of its ballistic missile arsenal," Netanyahu said. While stressing that it was not involved in the Israeli attacks, the United States warned Iran not to attack its personnel or interests. Tehran nevertheless said Washington would be "responsible for consequences". The strikes killed Iran's highest-ranking military officer, armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri, and the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, Iranian media reported. Khamenei swiftly appointed new commanders to replace those killed. "The senior chain of command of the air force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had assembled in an underground command centre to prepare for an attack on the State of Israel," the Israeli military said, adding that its attacks had killed most of them. Iran confirmed that the Guards' aerospace commander had been killed, along with "a group of brave and dedicated fighters". AFP images showed a gaping hole in the side of a Tehran residential building that appeared to have sustained a targeted strike. Tasnim news agency said six nuclear scientists were among the dead. Oil prices surged while stocks sank on the Israeli strikes. The conflict raised questions as to whether Sunday's sixth round of talks planned between the United States and Iran to seek a deal on Iran's nuclear programme would go ahead in Oman. After the first wave of strikes on Friday, Trump urged Iran to "make a deal", adding that Washington was "hoping to get back to the negotiating table". Iran confirmed that above-ground sections of the Natanz enrichment plant had been destroyed, but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said radiation levels outside the site "remained unchanged". "Most of the damage is on the surface level," said the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi. Iran said there was only limited damage to the Fordo and Isfahan nuclear sites. The United States and other Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, an ambition it has consistently denied. Netanyahu said Israeli intelligence had concluded that Iran was approaching the "point of no return" on its nuclear programme. Israel had called for global action after the IAEA accused Iran on Thursday of non-compliance with its obligations. Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set by a largely moribund 2015 agreement with major powers, but still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead.
New Indian Express
42 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Congress in damage control mode over Satheesan's Jamaat remarks
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As leader of opposition V D Satheesan's attempt to 'whitewash' Jamaat-e-Islami, backfired politically in Nilambur, the Congress has started damage control efforts. KPCC president Sunny Joseph has met powerful Muslim and Christian leaders in this regard. The move comes days before the visit of Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi to Nilambur which is part of her LS constituency. Sunny Joseph, who is close to Thamarassery Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil, met the latter on Friday. The meeting came after the Catholic Congress under the powerful Thamarassery Diocese issued a strong statement against Congress - Welfare Party tie-up. The KPCC chief reportedly clarified the party's stand to the bishop. He also sought the Church's support. According to sources close to the Church, Sunny Joseph held talks with Catholic Congress leaders. The KPCC president also met Jifri Muthukoya Thangal, the president of Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama, on Thursday. There is criticism among UDF partners that the opposition leader's 'certificate' to the Jamaat-e-Islami was an unwanted one. They are of the view that it gave both the CPM and BJP a political weapon which could have a far-reaching effect even in national politics. 'There is still suspicion over the controversial stand of Jamaat on Indian democracy, religious state and Constitution,' a Congress PAC member told TNIE. 'It is no surprise that almost all prominent Muslim community organisations including Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulma, and Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, and the Catholic Congress, a lay organisation of Syro-Malabar Catholics of Thamarassery Diocese, had come out strongly against the Jamaat-e-Islami- Congress alleged tie-up,' he added. The Congress-UDF leadership has decided not to entertain questions about Jamaat-e-Islami, Welfare Party and Congress 'tie-up'. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal's attempt to evade questions about the controversy, and senior leader K Muraleedharan playing down the issue are seen as part of this strategy. The party has decided to focus on the governance of the LDF government. There is also apprehension that though Venugopal's attack against CM's alleged anti- Malappuram remark was a success, the Jamaat controversy spoiled the edge. 'There are chances that the RSS -BJP may use the Jamaat controversy against the Gandhi family and the Congress in north India,' a senior Congress leader told TNIE. 'As state assembly elections are approaching, we do not want any kind of political debate on that,' he said.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
State govt to join hands with 5 leading foreign universities for education city in Navi Mumbai
MUMBAI: The state government will present Letters of Intent (LOIs) to five leading foreign universities as part of the 'Mumbai Rising – Creating an International Education City' initiative. The official ceremony will take place at noon today at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. The five universities invited to establish campuses in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai include the University of Aberdeen, the University of York, the University of Western Australia, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED). Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan will be the chief guest at the event. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil are also expected to attend. The initiative, led by the Government of Maharashtra with support from CIDCO, aims to develop an International Education City near the Navi Mumbai International Airport. The education hub, spanning a 5-km radius, will be the first of its kind in the country offering students access to high-quality international education within India. Officials said that the project could not only improve academic standards in India but also promote cultural exchange and collaboration between Indian and international students and faculty. 'The International Education City will help bring global education to our doorstep and create opportunities for students from across India,' a government official stated.
