Air India flight 171 crashed into student dining room with 'multiple injuries'
The Air India flight that crashed seconds after take-off on its way to the UK flew directly into a student dining room, The Mirror understands.
Air India flight 171 lost signal less than a minute after departing Ahmedabad airport in western India, with footage from eyewitnesses showing it crashing into the densely populated Menghani area of Ahmedabad directly under its flight path.
The Mirror understands the doomed plane crashed into a dining room for medical students who were eating their lunch.
The crash site is at the student mess hall of the B J Medical College, just 2km from the end of the runway at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
There are no official confirmation of casualties but we understand there multiple injuries to students who are being treated at the nearby Civil Hospital Ahmedabad.
Twisted metal and scorched stone lie among rubble in the first pictures from the scene.
Firefighters have been tackling the blaze, while broken bits of wreckage litter the streets below. The tail of the plane has been spotted on the roof of a residential building.
The flight was due to arrive in the UK at 18:25 this evening, heading for London Gatwick. The airport has tweeted: "We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25."
Meanwhile, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Air India, confirmed an emergency centre has been set up for families seeking information about loved ones on board the flight.
"With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today," he wrote in a statement.
"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.
"We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted. Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information.
"An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families seeking information. - N. Chandrasekaran Chairman, Air India."
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