Foreign Office issues urgent update after UK-bound plane crashes in India
Foreign Office issues urgent update after UK-bound plane crashes in India
53 UK passengers were among the 244 people aboard
Rescuers work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has urgently updated its advice after a plane crash in India, involving 53 UK passenmghers heading for London Gatwick. Aplane bound for Gatwick airport crashed shortly after take off in India with hundreds of people on board.
The Air India flight was departing from Ahmedabad airport, with 244 people onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Air India confirmed 53 of those aboard were from the UK.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, director general of India's directorate of civil aviation, told the Associated Press the crash happened in the Meghani Nagar area at 1.38pm local time (9.08am BST). Mr Kidwai said there were 232 passengers and 12 crew members onboard.
A Foreogn Office update reads: "We are aware of a plane crash in Ahmedabad. The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved. British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 020 7008 5000."
The FCDO already advises against all travel to parts of India. The FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border. The Wagah-Attari border crossing is closed.
FCDO advises against all travel to the region of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway).
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FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur including the capital, Imphal. Curfews and restrictions continue in parts of Manipur following violent ethnic clashes that broke out in 2023. Intermittent incidents have continued and escalated in September 2024.
Emergency teams have been activated at Ahmedabad airport. This is the first crash involving a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
A spokesperson for Air India said: 'Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.'
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 posted on social media platform X: 'We are following reports of a crash of Air India flight #AI171 from Ahmedabad to London.
'We received the last signal from the aircraft at 08:08:51 UTC (shortly before 9.09am BST), just seconds after take off.
'The aircraft involved is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with registration VT-ANB.'
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It added that the signal from the aircraft was lost 'less than a minute after take-off'.
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