Moments before Air India plane crash
Footage has emerged showing the moments before a London-bound Air India flight crashed near Ahmedabad Airport in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat - shortly after take-off.
More than 200 people - including 53 British nationals - were on board flight AI171 to London Gatwick.
Taken from what appears to be a property, harrowing footage shows the aircraft descending over a residential area.
It crashed in an area called Meghani Nagar at 1:38pm local time on Thursday, according to Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation.
0:44
Its wheels are still down, as you would expect from take-off.
The plane then disappears behind buildings as it descends.
A massive explosion follows as a huge fireball erupts and thick black plumes of smoke can be seen rising into the skies.
0:33
Flight tracking website Flightradar said a signal was last received from the aircraft less than a minute after take-off.
It is the first ever crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
6:42
Air India said 242 people, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national, were on board the flight.
In a statement, London Gatwick said the flight was due to land at 6.25pm local time on Thursday.
India's civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said: "Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
32 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Girls orphaned when father died in Air India crash after scattering wife's ashes
Arjun Patoliya, 37, was killed 18 days after his wife Bharti had died from cancer, the GoFundMe page to support their daughters, aged four and eight, said. The Briton had travelled to Gujarat to fulfil his wife's 'final wish'. By Saturday afternoon more than £370,000 had been raised to help the girls. The fundraiser, organised by Mr Patoliya's colleague, said: 'Their mother, Bharti Patoliya, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. 'Fulfilling her final wish, her husband Arjun Patoliya travelled to India to scatter her ashes in her homeland in Gujarat.' It added: 'Arjun left to bid farewell to his wife, never returned to the children they both raised. 'Now, these two beautiful young girls have been left without parents — their world turned upside down in just over two weeks.' Mr Patoliya worked at furniture manufacturer Inspired Elements Ltd, based in Stanmore, north-west London. The company, which organised the GoFundMe appeal, posted a tribute on social media saying: 'We are deeply saddened to share the (loss) of a cherished member of our team in the recent Air India flight tragedy. 'Our hearts are heavy with grief as we come to terms with this profound loss. 'Arjun was not just a colleague but also a dear friend. His dedication, kindness, and spirit has left a lasting mark on us all'. Mr Patoliya had attended Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul International School in Surat, western India. A teacher at the secondary school said on social media: 'It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our dear former student. 'This news has deeply saddened us all. Arjun was a cherished member of our Gurukul family, and his untimely departure is a great loss.' More than 8,700 donations had been made to the GoFundMe by Saturday afternoon, including many of more than £1,000, and one of £5,000. Money has been pledged to go towards providing a 'stable, nurturing home' for the girls and ensuring they can access education. Organisers said they will also use the donations to 'establish trusted long-term wellbeing care' and 'build a future rooted in love, healing, and opportunity. 'All funds raised will go directly to a legal trust or the appointed guardians to ensure every penny is dedicated to the girls' needs.' The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take off on Thursday in what is one of the deadliest plane accidents in terms of the number of British nationals killed. It struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. At least 25 more bodies were found in the debris by recovery crews working at the site until Friday evening, officials said, and it is unclear whether they had been on the flight or on the ground. The Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad has received 270 bodies, Dr Dhaval Gameti told the Associated Press.
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
All the royals who appeared on the Palace balcony for King's birthday
King Charles' official birthday was celebrated in London with the Trooping the Colour ceremony, featuring an RAF flypast. The King wore a black armband in tribute to the victims of the Air India plane crash, with the event modified to acknowledge the tragedy. The Royal Family, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the flypast. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – the Red Arrows – flew overhead, releasing colourful trails of red, white, and blue smoke. A minute's silence was observed on the day after the King inspected the guardsmen as a mark of respect for the victims of the aviation disaster.
The Herald Scotland
35 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Girls orphaned when father died in Air India crash after scattering wife's ashes
The Briton had travelled to Gujarat to fulfil his wife's 'final wish'. By Saturday afternoon more than £370,000 had been raised to help the girls. The fundraiser, organised by Mr Patoliya's colleague, said: 'Their mother, Bharti Patoliya, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. 'Fulfilling her final wish, her husband Arjun Patoliya travelled to India to scatter her ashes in her homeland in Gujarat.' It added: 'Arjun left to bid farewell to his wife, never returned to the children they both raised. 'Now, these two beautiful young girls have been left without parents — their world turned upside down in just over two weeks.' Mr Patoliya worked at furniture manufacturer Inspired Elements Ltd, based in Stanmore, north-west London. The company, which organised the GoFundMe appeal, posted a tribute on social media saying: 'We are deeply saddened to share the (loss) of a cherished member of our team in the recent Air India flight tragedy. 'Our hearts are heavy with grief as we come to terms with this profound loss. 'Arjun was not just a colleague but also a dear friend. His dedication, kindness, and spirit has left a lasting mark on us all'. Members of National Disaster Response Force arrive at the scene (Rafiq Maqbool/AP) Mr Patoliya had attended Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul International School in Surat, western India. A teacher at the secondary school said on social media: 'It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our dear former student. 'This news has deeply saddened us all. Arjun was a cherished member of our Gurukul family, and his untimely departure is a great loss.' More than 8,700 donations had been made to the GoFundMe by Saturday afternoon, including many of more than £1,000, and one of £5,000. Money has been pledged to go towards providing a 'stable, nurturing home' for the girls and ensuring they can access education. Organisers said they will also use the donations to 'establish trusted long-term wellbeing care' and 'build a future rooted in love, healing, and opportunity. Policemen secure the site of the airplane crash in Ahmedabad, India (Rafiq Maqbool/AP) 'All funds raised will go directly to a legal trust or the appointed guardians to ensure every penny is dedicated to the girls' needs.' The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take off on Thursday in what is one of the deadliest plane accidents in terms of the number of British nationals killed. It struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. At least 25 more bodies were found in the debris by recovery crews working at the site until Friday evening, officials said, and it is unclear whether they had been on the flight or on the ground. The Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad has received 270 bodies, Dr Dhaval Gameti told the Associated Press.
