Air India crash: All we know about Gatwick-bound flight as horror images emerge
The flight was due to land this afternoon.
At least 53 Brits were on board the Gatwick Airport-bound Air India flight which crashed this morning. The authorities said there were at least 244 people on the jet.
Air India Flight AI171 hit the ground shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, after signal was lost.
The Mirror states there are reports that there were 232 passengers on board, including 53 Brits, 169 Indian, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals There were also 12 crew members onboard. The numbers of casualties have not yet been confirmed.
The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner set off at 9.50am local time and was due to land at 18.25 at Gatwick Airport. According to Flight Radar, the plane had reached 625ft then started to descend with a vertical speed of -475 feet per minute.
It then crashed in a residential area. Harrowing footage captured the moment the aircraft descends before hitting the ground in a fireball. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, India's aviation minister, said: "We are on highest alert.
"I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised.
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"All efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families."
The plane regularly flies between India and destinations including Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Amsterdam, and Melbourne. The captain had 8,200 hours of flying experience.
The co-pilot had 1,100 hours of flying experience. The pilot gave a mayday call to air traffic control, but shortly after, no response was given by the aircraft.
In a statement on X, Gatwick Airport says: "We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25."
In a statement posted on X, Air India's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, says "with profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today".
"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event," he says. 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."
The UK government confirmed it will provide 'all the support that it can' to those on the Air India flight bound for Gatwick Airport which crashed shortly after take off.
House of Commons leader Lucy Powell said: "The thoughts of the whole House and the government will be with the families of those traveling on flight AI171 from Ahmedabad in India to London, Gatwick, which has reportedly crashed.
"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.
"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."
A spokesperson from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad confirmed all flights are currently suspended until further notice.
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