Air India crash: Trump says has offered India help over 'horrific' plane crash
An Air India plane, en route to London, tragically crashed in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff, claiming over 200 lives, including many British nationals. The Boeing 787-8 struck a medical college and residential area, causing further casualties. Global leaders, including President Trump and Prime Minister Starmer, have expressed their condolences and offered assistance.
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An Air India passenger plane bound for London crashed into a medical college in Gujarat's Ahmedabad after takeoff Thursday in one of India's worst airline disasters in decades, officials said. The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 53 British nationals, when it came down in Ahmedabad.US President Donald Trump has offered to help India following "horrific" plane crash in Ahmedabad that left one known survivor from 242 on board."I let them know that anything we can do -- we'll be over there immediately. But it was a horrific crash," Trump told reporters during a White House event.Ahmedabad's police chief told the BBC that 204 bodies had been recovered, while 41 people were being treated for injuries.Part of the plane fell on top of a medical college, killing at least five medical students and injuring nearly 50, according to a medical association. The Boeing 787-8 crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. (08:08 GMT), Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told AP.World leaders expressed grief and shock over the fatal aviation tragedy in which more than 200 people were killed minutes after taking off from the city. US President Donald Trump said "India plane crash was terrible", adding that the US has offered help to India.UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among scores of world leaders who offered condolences to the people of India in wake of the plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. "Heartbroken to hear the news of a tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. My prayers are with all who lost their loved ones in this horrible incident."British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the crash 'devastating" and British Cabinet minister Lucy Powell said the government will provide 'all the support that it can' to those affected by the crash. Condolences also poured in from King Charles III, who said he and his wife, Queen Camilla, were 'desperately shocked' by the crash.'Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations,' he said in a statement.This is the first crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. Boeing said it was 'working to gather more information.'India's aviation regulatory body said the aircraft gave a mayday call, signalling an emergency, but then did not respond to the calls made by the airport traffic control.Air India's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said that at the moment 'our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.''Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,' he said.(With inputs from agencies)
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