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British leaders react to Ahmedabad plane crash; PM Keir Starmer calls it devastating

British leaders react to Ahmedabad plane crash; PM Keir Starmer calls it devastating

The Hindu2 days ago

Many U.K. leaders reacted to the London-bound plane that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12, 2025), minutes after taking off.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating. In a post on X, Mr. Starmer said his thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time.
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. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 12, 2025
'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,' he said.
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy took to social media to express his support to those affected.
'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,' he said.
British Cabinet Minister Lucy Powell said the government will provide 'all the support that it can' to those affected by the crash.
Read: Air India Ahmedabad-London flight crash Live Updates
'This is an unfolding story, and it will undoubtedly be causing a huge amount of worry and concern to the many, many families and communities here and those waiting for the arrival of their loved ones,' she told lawmakers in the House of Commons.
'We send our deepest sympathy and thoughts to all those families, and the government will provide all the support that it can with those in India and those in this country as well,' she added.
King Charles is being kept updated about the Air India plane crash, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said on Thursday.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it was working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved. It issued a contact number for consular assistance.
'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,' the FCDO's travel advisory notes.
'British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 020 7008 5000,' it added.

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