logo
King Charles: 'Desperately shocked' by Air India crash

King Charles: 'Desperately shocked' by Air India crash

Air India has confirmed that 169 passengers are Indian nationals, 53 are British, one is Canadian, and seven are Portuguese.
The flight was departing from Ahmedabad airport, and the plane was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Gatwick Airport confirmed the plane travelling from Ahmedabad Airport was due to land at 6.25pm UK time.
A message from His Majesty The King following this morning's tragic incident in Ahmedabad. pic.twitter.com/H5zb6KlNnf
In a post on X, the Royal Family said: "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 wait for news of their loved ones.
"I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency service and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously shared a statement: "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.'
Recommended Reading
Prime Minister's 'thoughts' are with the passengers on crashed Air India flight
Flight to London Gatwick from India crashes with 244 people on board
53 British nationals were on board crashed Air India flight bound for Gatwick
The Government previously said it would provide 'all the support that it can' to those on the Air India flight bound for Gatwick Airport, which crashed shortly after take off, Commons Leader Lucy Powell said.
In a statement on X, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: 'The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.
'In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The British right is embracing direct action
The British right is embracing direct action

Spectator

time2 hours ago

  • Spectator

The British right is embracing direct action

First, it was Robert Jenrick tackling fare dodgers. Then it was Gareth Davies pursuing a thief. You might be forgiven for thinking that copies of Marvel's Justice League were circulating in Portcullis House. But among elements of the British right there is a renewed appreciation of the benefits of direct action. Shut out of office until at least 2029, Tory and Reform politicians are finding ways to channel their frustrations into novel, low-cost, forms of protest. Nigel Farage's aides have embraced humorous stunts such as beaming their membership numbers onto CCHQ and handing out blank books to journalists titled Highlights from my first 100 days, by Kemi Badenoch. Others, like Jenrick, try to think of new ways to land messages. He is vox-popping voters and leading a rally against China's super-embassy. Badenoch has also sought to position herself as the leader of the family farm tax protests, speaking as the keynote speaker at the London rally in November. Lawrence Newport's 'Looking for Growth' group has meanwhile taken to filming themselves cleaning up graffiti on the London Underground. This tactic is not completely new. At the Margaret Thatcher conference in Buckingham in March, older attendees talked fondly of 'Operation Pony Express'. This was a reference to the 1976 Grunwick strike, in which postal workers refused to handle deliveries for a photographic laboratory at which there was a strike. Volunteers – such as members of the newly-formed Freedom Association – wanted to help the business survive the strike, to strike a blow against trade union power. They smuggled mail out of the Grunwick depot and transferred thousands of processed films to plain envelopes to prevent the unions from identifying them. The orders were then reposted in hundreds of post boxes across the country, to keep the mail-order business going. It served as a way of energising activists and giving heart to a cause. Good politicians recognise that the legislative process is just one route to achieve their ends. But in the internet age, there is an obvious incentive to produce moments or clips of the unusual or subversive, which are more likely to be shared by fans and critics. A right wing MP is unlikely to secure a legislative triumph in the current House of Commons; a viral clip online is a much more realistic goal. Elite media gatekeepers no longer serve as a block on ambition. The use of such tactics could be seen as an indictment of impotence. Yet, in a highly cynical age, there is a merit to the 'show, don't tell' approach to politics. It is not enough, now, for politicians to simply claim to care about crime; they need to demonstrate it too. Some stunts, like Farage's book, are purely humorous; others, such as LfG's graffiti clean, aim to shame Transport for London into stepping up their game. At a time when a powerful sense of hopelessness is gripping much of the right, such case studies offer a way of empowering individuals and cheering their supporters. Expect to see more non-violent direct action in future.

Keir Starmer reiterates need to ‘de-escalate' Israel-Iran conflict
Keir Starmer reiterates need to ‘de-escalate' Israel-Iran conflict

Scotsman

time2 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Keir Starmer reiterates need to ‘de-escalate' Israel-Iran conflict

The Prime Minister was in telephone talks with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, this afternoon. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated the need to 'de-escalate' the conflict between Israel and Iran as the diplomatic push to calm tensions continues. The Prime Minister spoke to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman this afternoon (Saturday), and Foreign Secretary David Lammy was expected to spend the day in talks with counterparts across the Middle East and elsewhere. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad READ MORE: Starmer tells Netanyahu Israel and Iran must pull back from the brink It comes after Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel overnight with both countries upping the rhetoric as the conflict intensifies. READ MORE: How the UK could get dragged further into conflict in the Middle East Tehran has warned the US, the UK and France not to help Israel stop Iran's strikes, according to reports on Iranian state media today. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Downing Street spokesperson said Sir Keir and the Crown Prince spoke on Saturday afternoon. According to a read-out of the conversation issued by Number 10, 'they discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate'. 'The Prime Minister updated on his conversations with partners so far, and reiterated that the UK is poised to work closely with its allies in the coming days to support a diplomatic resolution.' The Foreign Secretary was due to be briefed by officials on Saturday on the developments overnight, and was expected to speak to figures in the Middle East and elsewhere through the day. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It comes after Mr Lammy had conversations with representatives from Iran, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as well as European foreign ministers on Friday. Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Israel after a series of Israeli attacks on the heart of Tehran's nuclear programme and armed forces. Tehran's UN ambassador said 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded in Friday's early morning offensive. As Iran struck back, explosions were heard in Jerusalem and smoke was seen rising over Tel Aviv. Israel's ambulance service said 34 people were injured on Friday night in the Tel Aviv area, most with minor injuries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Police later said one person had died. Another two people were confirmed killed in a direct missile strike on central Israel on Saturday morning. The retaliation attack was unleashed following the assassination of the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami. The barrage began after a televised address from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who pledged: 'The armed forces of the Islamic republic will inflict heavy blows upon this malevolent enemy.' He warned the consequences of Israel's attack 'will bring it to ruin'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, accused Iran of crossing 'red lines' by attacking civilian areas, although some of Israel's own strikes earlier in the day hit residential parts of Iranian cities.

Pembrokeshire activists join 4,000 strong March to Gaza
Pembrokeshire activists join 4,000 strong March to Gaza

Western Telegraph

time4 hours ago

  • Western Telegraph

Pembrokeshire activists join 4,000 strong March to Gaza

Jim Scott, a tree surgeon and activist from Mathry, and Tamsin Nash, a Pembrokeshire art curator and mother of four are joining the Global March to Gaza. The march involves more than four thousand people from 54 different countries walking on foot on a three-day, 30-mile hike through the Sinai desert to the border crossing at Gaza. They aim to demand a stop to the genocide and demanding that Israel re-opens the border to allow a humanitarian corridor to be established. (Image: Jim Scott) The campaigners set off on Friday, June 13, aiming to reach Rafah by Sunday, June 15. Pembrokeshire campaigner Jim Scott joins the march as part of the official delegation from CND Cymru. 'I am aware that by marching 30 miles on foot through the Sinai desert to the Rafah border we may face arrest, detention, deportation or imprisonment,' said Jim. 'A worse outcome might be that if we do reach Rafah which is a militarised zone, we may face military aggression and could even be killed ourselves by the Israeli army.' Upon his arrival in Egypt Jim published an open letter sent to Pembrokeshire's Labour MP, Henry Tufnell, Eluned Morgan MS and other elected representatives in Wales including secretary of state for Wales Jo Stevens heavily criticising them for inaction over the Gaza genocide. 'As one of your constituents and as a citizen of the United Kingdom, I feel I must act where you have not acted and take steps to prevent the further genocide in Gaza where your government has failed to do so,' the letter begins. 'As the British government and yourself have failed in your international duty and legal obligation to effectively oppose and prevent war crimes, ethnic cleansing and genocide in occupied Palestine over the last 19 months, I feel I have no choice but to take action myself. 'Only those of us who resist, oppose and fight back against Israel's crimes now will be on the right side of history.' (Image: Jim Scott) The letter concludes by imploring politicians to demand that a humanitarian corridor to be opened via Rafah and criticised the UK Government for not taking meaningful steps such as ending arms sales and proper economic sanctions on the entire Israeli state. Pembrokeshire mother of four, Tasmin, described herself as an 'empathetic human', when asked why she'd travelled to Egypt to join the delegation. 'Yesterday I saw four bewildered children bleeding on a hospital bed, from another bomb attack. How can I carry on as normal?' she said. 'With tens of thousands murdered as Israel continues to destroy and burn people alive, I cannot rest. I cannot stay silent. 'We have witnessed atrocities enacted with impunity for 20 months. Poets killed, journalists assassinated, children snipered, fathers murdered for being hungry, newborns denied critical care and left to die, children orphaned, women shot - the crimes are colossal. I have protested, lobbied, fundraised, talked, disrupted." "Now is the time to mobilise our passion and humanity. Alongside the 12 hearts aboard the Freedom Flotilla I endeavour to do what our governments have failed - rise and move to show it's the people who will make the difference. "We are united for justice and solidarity for Palestine." (Image: Jim Scott) The members of the delegation said they were moved by the high levels of support offered from many people who have pledged to donate to a crowdfunder to help with the costs of attending the march. A spokesperson for CND Cymru said: 'We are proud to support this important march by sending a delegation. 'In the face of the genocide of the Palestinian people, western governments have been silent. In being part of this march, we are telling the Palestinian people we bear witness. And we will not forgive those who have committed these acts of brutality. 'As the Madleen and Conscience carried both material aid and the hope and goodwill of the people of the world, so too does this international march.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store