Crawley recycling centre fire prompts warnings of smoke
Residents have been asked to keep their windows and doors closed after a fire broke out at a recycling facility in Crawley.West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to Crawley Recycling Centre in Metcalf Way at about 14:30 BST.At about 15:20 BST, a spokesperson said: "We are scaling back our attendance... but will remain on site damping down to ensure there are no further signs of fire."People have been urged to avoid the area.
The fire service said: "We would encourage people to continue keeping their doors and windows closed as there is still some smoke in the area."
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Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
First pictures of Air India crash pilots who issued desperate mayday call before disaster
First pictures of Air India crash pilots who issued desperate mayday call before disaster Air India flight AI171 crashed just seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in India with 241 people on board Some of the remains of the aircraft that crashed yesterday (Image: CISF via AP ) The pilots of the Air India flight involved in a tragic crash which led to 241 fatalities have been pictured as details of their chilling mayday call emerge. According to the air traffic control at Ahmedabad Airport, the flight left from the airport's runway 23 at 1.39pm local time (9.09am BST). Soon after the take-off, the crew aboard the plane issued a "mayday" distress call. However, subsequent contact attempts with the aircraft went unanswered, India's aviation regulatory body said. Flightradar24, the flight monitoring service, has said it observed a signal loss from the plane mere moments after take off. Tragically, before the aircraft crashed into a residential area soon after ascent, the experienced Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with 8,200 flight hours, along with First Officer Clive Kundar who had clocked up 1,100 hours, issued the distress signal. With urgency, the captain broadcasted: " thrust, losing power, unable to lift." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Captain Sumeet Sabharwal who issued the mayday call prior to the tragic crash Despite their efforts, the pilots couldn't regain control as the aircraft plunged to the ground just 1.5 miles from the runway edge, in Meghani Nagar - a crowded neighbourhood in Gujarat, reports the Mirror. Article continues below Tragically, Air India revealed that of the 242 individuals on board flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, only Vishwash Kumar Ramesh survived when the plane met with disaster on 12 June 2025. The airline shared in a statement on X: "Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. First Officer Clive Kundar who was also on the plane "The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital. The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and 1 Canadian national. The survivor is a British national of Indian origin. "Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones. A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support. Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident. "Air India has also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information. Those calling from outside India can call on +91 8062779200." According to the Aviation Safety Network database, this is the first crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Boeing has stated they are "working to gather more information". The previous significant passenger plane accident in India occurred in 2020 when an Air India Express Boeing-737 overran a hilltop runway in southern India, resulting in 21 fatalities. India's most catastrophic air disaster took place on 12 November 1996, when a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight collided midair with a Kazakhstan Airlines Flight near Charki Dadri in Haryana state, claiming the lives of all 349 people aboard both aircraft. Article continues below
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Wales Online
Passenger on doomed Air India flight's earlier journey said nothing was working
Passenger on doomed Air India flight's earlier journey said nothing was working Akash Vatsa said he had been on the same plane that crashed in Ahmedabad, India, on Friday, and had noticed a number of problems with the aircraft Parts of the Air India plane that crashed yesterday, strewn across the crash site (Image: AP ) A passenger, who had earlier flown on the same plane that crashed in western India, has come forward to report several issues with the aircraft. Akash Vatsa took to social media to recount his experience on the Air India flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad, just two hours before the same aircraft was scheduled to depart for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad. During his flight, he said he "noticed unusual things in the plane" which was Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. He captured his observations in a video, which he shared with Air India, requesting that they get in touch with him for further information. Boeing India, alongside various media outlets, were also tagged in the post. Content cannot be displayed without consent According to Vatsa's account, the air conditioning system was not working, forcing numerous passengers to improvise by using in-flight magazines as makeshift fans, reports the Mirror. The passenger then turned the camera on himself, visibly sweating, before highlighting another issue: "As usual, your TV screens are also not working." Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here Article continues below He continued his critique, pointing out that "nothing is working, not even the light is working" and posed a question to Air India: "Is this what you are providing?". Flight Radar data revealed that the flight touched down in Ahmedabad at 11:16am local time. The same Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner subsequently took off from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm local time (9:08 am BST), bound for London Gatwick Airport. Tragically, mere minutes after lifting off, the plane met with disaster, plummeting into a residential area. The aircraft was carrying 242 individuals which included 53 British citizens, 169 from India, along with seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian. After initial reports indicated a total loss of life, when to the city's head of police spoke to the news agency AP, there was a glimmer of hope when Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik disclosed to ANI that one person miraculously survived. The distressing incident was captured on video, revealing the moment the plane struck a facility used by medical students for dining before being engulfed in flame and thick black smoke. Responding to the calamity, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound shock and sorrow: "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." Similarly, Britain's Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, released a heartfelt statement, declaring: "The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating." He continued: "I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time." Mathrubhumi News, an Indian media outlet, reported that Air India's flight AI-171 was grounded in December 2024 due to a "major technical snag". The incident led to scrutiny over "maintenance lapses and flight safety procedures" as per the outlet, yet the aircraft was subsequently given the all-clear to resume flying, according to the Express. In the aftermath of the crash, Air India announced that those injured were being transported to hospital and established a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 for further information. An additional contact number +91 8062779200 was also made available for international callers. The carrier stated it was providing "its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident". Several hours following the accident, Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, issued a video statement on social media platforms. He conveyed the airline's "deep sorrow" regarding the tragic event and emphasised that their focus would be "entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families, and loved ones". Wilson acknowledged the presence of "many questions" surrounding the incident but stated he would "not be able to answer all of them". He added: "We are actively working with the authorities on all emergency response efforts." In a communication to the Mirror, Air India stated: "We would like to inform you that Air India is closely coordinating with all relevant authorities, and any verified updates or official statements will be shared through our official communication channels." Article continues below It further stated: "We remain committed to transparency and will continue to share updates as appropriate."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
One of two black boxes has been recovered from doomed Air India plane
Local media have confirmed one of the two black boxes belonging to the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft has been recovered - investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing One of two black boxes belonging to the Air India flight that crashed at Ahmedabad Airport in western India yesterday has been recovered, local media reports. The plane bound for Gatwick Airport erupted into a fireball near Ahmedabad Airport in western India after crashing into a college in a residential area. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft was carrying 242 people. The airline said 241 of the 242 people died in the crash, with British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, the sole survivor. In the latest update from Air India the airline confirmed they had set up Friends & Relatives Assistance Centres at Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Gatwick airports to provide support for the families and loved ones of those on flight AI171. Of the two black boxes, the one in the rear of the aircraft has been located and safely guarded. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will collect the equipment to analyse the recordings. The second black box, in the aircraft's front portion, is yet to be found, a source told local newspaper Hindustan Times. What is a black box? A black box is a small machine that records information about an aircraft during its flight. This bright orange or yellow rectangular box is crafted to withstand explosions, fire, water pressure, and high-speed crashes. It contains flight and cockpit recordings, and flight data, which help in zeroing in on the real cause of the plane crash. Soon after an accident, authorities first try to locate the equipment to discover what led to the crash. The pilots of the Air India flight, have been pictured after details of their desperate mayday call emerged. According to air traffic control at Ahmedabad Airport, the aircraft departed at 1.39pm local time (9.09am BST) from runway 23. Shortly after take-off, the crew issued a "mayday" distress call, indicating an emergency situation. However, the aircraft did not respond to the calls made by the airport traffic control, India's aviation regulatory body said. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of flying experience, and his co-pilot Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours of experience, raised the alarm. The captain desperately said: "Mayday…no thrust, losing power, unable to lift." Sadly, the pilots were unable to nudge up the nose of the aircraft - and it came down just 1.5 miles beyond the end of the runway, in the densely-populated Meghani Nagar neighbourhood of the city in the state of Gujarat. So far the only reported survivor is Vishwash Kumar Ramesh who has been in a hospital ward since he escaped the aircraft. He is now sitting up in bed, was conscious and has a lot of bruising on his arms and face, according to Sky News. Local doctors said the British man has been walking and, other than a few scratches, all of the tests they have performed show he is miraculously unharmed.
