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Metro
a day ago
- General
- Metro
Air India crash: Search for black boxes continues after PM visits wreckage site
Sort: Newest first Oldest first Pinned Update June 12, 2025 10:50 am 53 British nationals were onboard tragic flight We're receiving more details about the passengers onboard. 217 adults, 11 children and two infants were onboard. 53 passengers were British nationals. 169 were Indian nationals, seven were Portuguese, and there was one Canadian on board. All the passengers, except one 40-year-old British national, are believed to be dead. June 13, 2025 6:31 am Watch: Indian Prime Minister silently inspects wreckage To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video June 13, 2025 6:26 am Here's what we know so far this morning Thanks for joining our coverage today. The second day of searches for the remains of passengers on the Air India flight is well underway in Ahmedabad. Everyone onboard except for one man died. Prime Minister Modi visited the scene, and was seen silently inspecting the rubble and plane debris. Police are reportedly not allowing bodies to be released to family until DNA analysis from family members is complete. The search for the plane's black boxes is underway again June 12, 2025 10:59 pm Seven killed when Air India plane collided with medical college At least five medical students, one resident doctor and the wife of a doctor of the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad were killed and 60 students were injured in the Air India crash. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the medical school's accommodation for male students, slamming into the dorm's dining hall while up to 80 students were inside. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) national vice president, Dr Divyansh Singh, confirmed the deaths. He added: 'Bodies that have been found were totally charred.' June 12, 2025 10:45 pm New bride on way to see husband for first time since wedding feared dead The last photo ever taken of Khushboo Rajpurohit was just outside Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. She was set to fly to London to see her husband, Manfool Singh, for the first time since getting married in January. But Rajpurohit, from the village of Araba in Rajasthan's Balotra district, is now believed to have been among the 241 who died in the Air India crash, NDTV reported. June 12, 2025 10:39 pm Woman missed doomed Air India flight by 10 minutes A woman who missed her flight to London by 10 minutes narrowly escaped the Air India flight AI-171 crash. Bhoomi Chauhan had her ticket at the ready for the flight from Ahmedabad only to miss it, she told Republic TV. She said: 'I am completely devastated after hearing about the loss. My body is literally shivering. I am not able to talk. My mind is totally blank now after hearing all that has happened.' June 12, 2025 10:34 pm Air India plane that crashed had 'prior issues', claims passenger 'The AC isn't working, many systems are non-functional, and passengers are visibly distressed. Even the entertainment screens in front of the seats are not operational.' This is what a passenger who says they were on the same aircraft hours before the crash said they experienced. Akash Vatsa said on X that he was on the AI 423 from Delhi to Ahmedabad this morning and landed at 11.40am. He added: 'The cabin is hot and stuffy, I'm sweating. The air conditioning hasn't worked for 15 minutes. This is Air India's Dreamliner aircraft.' June 12, 2025 10:25 pm Tributes to This Morning star feared dead Former This Morning editor Martin Frizell has paid tribute to a former guest feared to have been those aboad the Air India flight. Fiongal Greenlaw, 39, and his husband Jamie Meek, 45, filmed themselves for an Instagram video moments before boarding. They founded a wellness brand together, which Fiongal promoted on the morning talk show earlier this year. Frizell said on social media: 'I remember his visit to the studio in January, he was passionate about auras and although I'm a sceptical sort his vibrancy and sheer enthusiasm won folk over.' June 12, 2025 9:44 pm 'Lovely lady' and two-year-old grandson feared on board Air India flight A 'lovely' grandmother and her two-year-old grandson are feared to have crashed alongside 240 others in Air India flight AI171. Recently widowed Raxa Modha, 55, her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar and grandson Rudra are believed to have been on the plane. The widow was returning to Northamptonshire with her family after spending time in India following her husband Kishor's death. In a twist of fate, Raxa's son Kishan was also planning to fly home but on a different flight planned for tomorrow. Speaking to MailOnline, a family friend said: 'It's incredibly sad, the whole family is already grieving Kishor's death. 'Kishan fortunately was getting on another flight, but we don't know what has happened to the others.' Wellingborough's mayor Raj Mishra called the deaths of Raxa, Yasha and Rudra 'devastating' as he extended his 'deepest condolences to their families, friends, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event.' June 12, 2025 9:29 pm First pictures of family-of-three feared dead in Ahmedabad tragedy A family-of-three are believed to have taken doomed flight AI171, coming home after enjoying a five-day family celebration in India. The successful couple ran a global recruitment agency with offices in Ahmedabad and Gloucester. Their devastated business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori told MailOnline: 'I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people.' He went to the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, alongside hundreds of others hoping to hear news of their relatives on board the plane. June 12, 2025 9:08 pm Chilling selfie on board AI171 flight for family planning to start new life in London A family excited to start a new life together in London took one last selfie before doomed Air India flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad. Doctor Komi Vyas had quit her job to join her husband Dr Prateek Joshi in London with their three children. Dr Joshi had returned from London earlier this week to bring his family with him on their new chapter. They all beamed on board AI171 as the plane prepared to take off and fly to London. Moments after departure, it plunged into a doctor's hospital, killing the family and 236 others on board. There was only one survivor. June 12, 2025 8:55 pm Formal investigation into crash begins A formal investigation into the devastating crash in Ahmedabad has been initiated, the country's civil aviation minister has announced. Posting on X, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had begun an investigation 'in line with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).' The government will also establish a new 'high-level committee' of experts to examine what happened, he added. June 12, 2025 8:55 pm 'We need to find out what caused this,' says Labour MP Labour MP Warinder Jess has said the large Indian community in his constituency are in 'extreme distress'. The Wolverhampton West MP told Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge that 'everybody is still in shock' about today's plane crash. He added: 'We need to find out what caused this accident'. Conservative MP Shivani Raja agreed, saying: 'Aeroplanes do sadly on occasion crash, but it's meant to be the safest form of transport. 'We need to find out exactly what happened.' June 12, 2025 7:52 pm Indian Interior Minister meets British sole survivor To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video India's Interior Minister Amit Shah has met those injured in the AI171 crash on Thursday morning, including the only passenger who is believed to have survived the crash. Amit Shah visited Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital on Wednesday evening and met Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who survived the crash while on seat 11A. June 12, 2025 7:19 pm British man has 'no idea' how he survived, family say To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A British man believed to be the sole survivor of the Air India crash has 'no idea' how he escaped the plane. The family of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, spoke outside their Leicester home. His brother said: 'We were just shocked as soon as we heard it. 'I last spoke to him yesterday morning. We're devastated, just devastated. 'He said I have no idea how I exited the plane.' According to the Hindustan Times, the survivor recalled: 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.' His brother, Ajay, is believed to also have been on the plane but sat on a different row to Vishwash. June 12, 2025 6:59 pm Boeing's President offers to support investigation into crash The President and CEO of Boeing Kelly Ortberg has offered his 'deepest condlences' to the 'loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171'. It was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner which crashed shortly after take off from Ahmedabad en route to Gatwick. In a short statement, the airplane manufacturer said they 'stands [sic] ready to support the investigation led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau' into the incident. June 12, 2025 6:51 pm Starmer: 'Our thoughts are with everyone impacted' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Keir Starmer has described the Air India disaster as 'absolutely devastating' as he detailed British help with crash investigations. Speaking from Downing Street, the PM said: 'I speak for the entire country in saying our thoughts are with each and every one of those involved.' He said the Foreign Secretary David Lammy is leading on the British response, and said an investigation team has been dispatched to India to establish the facts. June 12, 2025 6:46 pm 'We are profoundly heartbroken' – tributes to British family killed in Air India crash The friends and family of a British family killed on board flight AI171 say they are 'profoundly heartbroken' are the 'catastrophic crash'. Husband and wife Akeel Nanabawa and Hannaa Vorajee, from Gloucester, were on the Air India flight with their 'beloved' daughter Sara. Their family members confirmed to the BBC that they were on the plane which left Ahmedabad for Gatwick. Gloucestershire Muslim Bereavement Council (GMBC) said in a statement they extend their 'most sincere and deepest condolences to the Nanabawa family upon receiving the tragic news'. They added: 'During this moment of overwhelming sorrow, our hearts go out to all those left behind. 'No words can truly ease the pain of such a profound loss, but we pray that the family may find solace in the tremendous outpouring of compassion and solidarity from communities across the world. 'May their cherished memories provide comfort, and may they rest in eternal peace.' June 12, 2025 6:02 pm Black box of AI171 has been recovered from crash site The black box of the crashed Air India flight has been recovered and is being transported for investigation. A black box records flight data and cockpit audio, so is crucial for investigators to understand what causes a flight to go wrong. The Airports Authority of India has recovered AI171's black box, according to news channel Republic World and other local news sites. June 12, 2025 5:47 pm Trump says US will do 'anything we can do' to help US President Donald Trump offered aid to India after the 'horrific' Ahmedabad crash, which he called 'one of the worst in aviation history'. Speaking at a press conference Thursday afternoon, Trump said: 'I let them know anything we can do, we'll be over there immediately. 'It was a horrific crash, it looks like most are gone. 'Nobody has any idea what it might be. I gave them a couple pointerss. I said 'maybe you will look at this'. 'It looked like the plane was flying well.' 🚨President Trump speaks on the Air India plane crash this morning: "The plane crash was terrible. I've already told them, anything we can do. We will be over there immediately." — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 12, 2025 June 12, 2025 5:34 pm Tributes to pilots and cabin crew of doomed Air India flight Information is coming in about the pilots and air stewards on AI171. The plane's co-pilot Clive Kunder has been described as a promising pilot, with 1,100 of flying hours, whose career was tragically cut short. He is the uncle of Indian actor Vikrant Massey. He said his 'heart breaks' over the crash in a post on Instagram. The flight's Captain has been named as Sumeet Sabharwal. He had over 8,200 hours of experience. A number of the cabin crew have also been identified. Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singson, as well as senior members Shradha Dhavan and Aparna Mahadik were also named among the crew. Kongbrailatpam's family were tears as they looked through a photo album with pictures of her inside. Saineeta Chakravarti, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa were all working on the plane when it came down after take off.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- General
- Business Standard
AI plane crash: At least 5 MBBS students, 1 doctor dead; over 60 injured
At least five MBBS students, one PG resident doctor and the wife of a superspecialist doctor of the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad were killed and over 60 medical students injured when an Air India plane crashed into the college complex, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) claimed. The search operation at the crash site is still going on and many are feared buried in the debris, FAIMA national vice president Dr Divyansh Singh said. "Bodies that have been found were totally charred," he added. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed into the medical college complex and burst into a ball of fire moments after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, possibly killing almost everyone on board in one of the country's worst air disasters. There were 242 people on board, including 12 crew members. Of the 230 passengers on board, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national, Air India said earlier in the day in a statement. "As of now, at least five medical students, one PG resident doctor and the wife of a superspecialist doctor from the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad have been killed and over 60 medical students have been injured," Singh said. "As per the information I have received so far, the plane after losing its balance crashed over the boys hostel building of the BJ Medical College. And as it was a lunch time most of the students and resident doctors were there for lunch," he said. There was no official count of those killed even hours after the the crash. As rescuers struggled to find survivors in the charred wreckage and pull out the injured, many of them with grievous burns, officials tried to assess the human magnitude of the disaster. Unofficial reports said up to 25 people in the medical complex could also have died. According to Air India, of the 230 passengers, 169 were Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. The other 12 people on board were two pilots and 10 crew members. The search was also on for the aircraft's black box -- the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder -- for clues to understand what happened in the last crucial moments of the doomed flight to London's Gatwick airport. The 11-year-old aircraft could be seen from miles away, losing altitude rapidly and combusting in a fiery blaze that sent plumes of thick black smoke spiralling up in the air. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro
a day ago
- General
- Metro
Air India plane pilot's chilling mayday call before deadly Ahmedabad crash
Sort: Newest first Oldest first Pinned Update June 12, 2025 10:50 am 53 British nationals were onboard tragic flight We're receiving more details about the passengers onboard. 217 adults, 11 children and two infants were onboard. 53 passengers were British nationals. 169 were Indian nationals, seven were Portuguese, and there was one Canadian on board. All the passengers, except one 40-year-old British national, are believed to be dead. June 12, 2025 10:59 pm Seven killed when Air India plane collided with medical college At least five medical students, one resident doctor and the wife of a doctor of the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad were killed and 60 students were injured in the Air India crash. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the medical school's accommodation for male students, slamming into the dorm's dining hall while up to 80 students were inside. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) national vice president, Dr Divyansh Singh, confirmed the deaths. He added: 'Bodies that have been found were totally charred.' June 12, 2025 10:45 pm New bride on way to see husband for first time since wedding feared dead The last photo ever taken of Khushboo Rajpurohit was just outside Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. She was set to fly to London to see her husband, Manfool Singh, for the first time since getting married in January. But Rajpurohit, from the village of Araba in Rajasthan's Balotra district, is now believed to have been among the 241 who died in the Air India crash, NDTV reported. June 12, 2025 10:39 pm Woman missed doomed Air India flight by 10 minutes A woman who missed her flight to London by 10 minutes narrowly escaped the Air India flight AI-171 crash. Bhoomi Chauhan had her ticket at the ready for the flight from Ahmedabad only to miss it, she told Republic TV. She said: 'I am completely devastated after hearing about the loss. My body is literally shivering. I am not able to talk. My mind is totally blank now after hearing all that has happened.' June 12, 2025 10:34 pm Air India plane that crashed had 'prior issues', claims passenger 'The AC isn't working, many systems are non-functional, and passengers are visibly distressed. Even the entertainment screens in front of the seats are not operational.' This is what a passenger who says they were on the same aircraft hours before the crash said they experienced. Akash Vatsa said on X that he was on the AI 423 from Delhi to Ahmedabad this morning and landed at 11.40am. He added: 'The cabin is hot and stuffy, I'm sweating. The air conditioning hasn't worked for 15 minutes. This is Air India's Dreamliner aircraft.' June 12, 2025 10:25 pm Tributes to This Morning star feared dead Former This Morning editor Martin Frizell has paid tribute to a former guest feared to have been those aboad the Air India flight. Fiongal Greenlaw, 39, and his husband Jamie Meek, 45, filmed themselves for an Instagram video moments before boarding. They founded a wellness brand together, which Fiongal promoted on the morning talk show earlier this year. Frizell said on social media: 'I remember his visit to the studio in January, he was passionate about auras and although I'm a sceptical sort his vibrancy and sheer enthusiasm won folk over.' June 12, 2025 9:44 pm 'Lovely lady' and two-year-old grandson feared on board Air India flight A 'lovely' grandmother and her two-year-old grandson are feared to have crashed alongside 240 others in Air India flight AI171. Recently widowed Raxa Modha, 55, her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar and grandson Rudra are believed to have been on the plane. The widow was returning to Northamptonshire with her family after spending time in India following her husband Kishor's death. In a twist of fate, Raxa's son Kishan was also planning to fly home but on a different flight planned for tomorrow. Speaking to MailOnline, a family friend said: 'It's incredibly sad, the whole family is already grieving Kishor's death. 'Kishan fortunately was getting on another flight, but we don't know what has happened to the others.' Wellingborough's mayor Raj Mishra called the deaths of Raxa, Yasha and Rudra 'devastating' as he extended his 'deepest condolences to their families, friends, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event.' June 12, 2025 9:29 pm First pictures of family-of-three feared dead in Ahmedabad tragedy A family-of-three are believed to have taken doomed flight AI171, coming home after enjoying a five-day family celebration in India. The successful couple ran a global recruitment agency with offices in Ahmedabad and Gloucester. Their devastated business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori told MailOnline: 'I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people.' He went to the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, alongside hundreds of others hoping to hear news of their relatives on board the plane. June 12, 2025 9:08 pm Chilling selfie on board AI171 flight for family planning to start new life in London A family excited to start a new life together in London took one last selfie before doomed Air India flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad. Doctor Komi Vyas had quit her job to join her husband Dr Prateek Joshi in London with their three children. Dr Joshi had returned from London earlier this week to bring his family with him on their new chapter. They all beamed on board AI171 as the plane prepared to take off and fly to London. Moments after departure, it plunged into a doctor's hospital, killing the family and 236 others on board. There was only one survivor. June 12, 2025 8:55 pm Formal investigation into crash begins A formal investigation into the devastating crash in Ahmedabad has been initiated, the country's civil aviation minister has announced. Posting on X, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had begun an investigation 'in line with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).' The government will also establish a new 'high-level committee' of experts to examine what happened, he added. June 12, 2025 8:55 pm 'We need to find out what caused this,' says Labour MP Labour MP Warinder Jess has said the large Indian community in his constituency are in 'extreme distress'. The Wolverhampton West MP told Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge that 'everybody is still in shock' about today's plane crash. He added: 'We need to find out what caused this accident'. Conservative MP Shivani Raja agreed, saying: 'Aeroplanes do sadly on occasion crash, but it's meant to be the safest form of transport. 'We need to find out exactly what happened.' June 12, 2025 7:52 pm Indian Interior Minister meets British sole survivor To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video India's Interior Minister Amit Shah has met those injured in the AI171 crash on Thursday morning, including the only passenger who is believed to have survived the crash. Amit Shah visited Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital on Wednesday evening and met Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who survived the crash while on seat 11A. June 12, 2025 7:19 pm British man has 'no idea' how he survived, family say To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A British man believed to be the sole survivor of the Air India crash has 'no idea' how he escaped the plane. The family of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, spoke outside their Leicester home. His brother said: 'We were just shocked as soon as we heard it. 'I last spoke to him yesterday morning. We're devastated, just devastated. 'He said I have no idea how I exited the plane.' According to the Hindustan Times, the survivor recalled: 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.' His brother, Ajay, is believed to also have been on the plane but sat on a different row to Vishwash. June 12, 2025 6:59 pm Boeing's President offers to support investigation into crash The President and CEO of Boeing Kelly Ortberg has offered his 'deepest condlences' to the 'loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171'. It was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner which crashed shortly after take off from Ahmedabad en route to Gatwick. In a short statement, the airplane manufacturer said they 'stands [sic] ready to support the investigation led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau' into the incident. June 12, 2025 6:51 pm Starmer: 'Our thoughts are with everyone impacted' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Keir Starmer has described the Air India disaster as 'absolutely devastating' as he detailed British help with crash investigations. Speaking from Downing Street, the PM said: 'I speak for the entire country in saying our thoughts are with each and every one of those involved.' He said the Foreign Secretary David Lammy is leading on the British response, and said an investigation team has been dispatched to India to establish the facts. June 12, 2025 6:46 pm 'We are profoundly heartbroken' – tributes to British family killed in Air India crash The friends and family of a British family killed on board flight AI171 say they are 'profoundly heartbroken' are the 'catastrophic crash'. Husband and wife Akeel Nanabawa and Hannaa Vorajee, from Gloucester, were on the Air India flight with their 'beloved' daughter Sara. Their family members confirmed to the BBC that they were on the plane which left Ahmedabad for Gatwick. Gloucestershire Muslim Bereavement Council (GMBC) said in a statement they extend their 'most sincere and deepest condolences to the Nanabawa family upon receiving the tragic news'. They added: 'During this moment of overwhelming sorrow, our hearts go out to all those left behind. 'No words can truly ease the pain of such a profound loss, but we pray that the family may find solace in the tremendous outpouring of compassion and solidarity from communities across the world. 'May their cherished memories provide comfort, and may they rest in eternal peace.' June 12, 2025 6:02 pm Black box of AI171 has been recovered from crash site The black box of the crashed Air India flight has been recovered and is being transported for investigation. A black box records flight data and cockpit audio, so is crucial for investigators to understand what causes a flight to go wrong. The Airports Authority of India has recovered AI171's black box, according to news channel Republic World and other local news sites. June 12, 2025 5:47 pm Trump says US will do 'anything we can do' to help US President Donald Trump offered aid to India after the 'horrific' Ahmedabad crash, which he called 'one of the worst in aviation history'. Speaking at a press conference Thursday afternoon, Trump said: 'I let them know anything we can do, we'll be over there immediately. 'It was a horrific crash, it looks like most are gone. 'Nobody has any idea what it might be. I gave them a couple pointerss. I said 'maybe you will look at this'. 'It looked like the plane was flying well.' 🚨President Trump speaks on the Air India plane crash this morning: "The plane crash was terrible. I've already told them, anything we can do. We will be over there immediately." — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 12, 2025 June 12, 2025 5:34 pm Tributes to pilots and cabin crew of doomed Air India flight Information is coming in about the pilots and air stewards on AI171. The plane's co-pilot Clive Kunder has been described as a promising pilot, with 1,100 of flying hours, whose career was tragically cut short. He is the uncle of Indian actor Vikrant Massey. He said his 'heart breaks' over the crash in a post on Instagram. The flight's Captain has been named as Sumeet Sabharwal. He had over 8,200 hours of experience. A number of the cabin crew have also been identified. Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singson, as well as senior members Shradha Dhavan and Aparna Mahadik were also named among the crew. Kongbrailatpam's family were tears as they looked through a photo album with pictures of her inside. Saineeta Chakravarti, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa were all working on the plane when it came down after take off. June 12, 2025 5:15 pm Boeing 'ready to support' Air India Boeing has issued a statement after one of its Dreamliner planes went down moments after takeoff. The company said: 'We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.' We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected. — Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) June 12, 2025 June 12, 2025 4:51 pm Top state politician among the victims Vijay Rupani, Gujarat's former chief minister known for his calm yet decisive leadership style, has been named as one of the Air India plane crash victims. The death of Rupani, a senior member of India's governing party, BJP, was confirmed on X by the party's spokesperson, Sambit Patra. 'His departure is an irreparable loss not only for Gujarat but for the entire Indian politics,' Patra added. अहमदाबाद में हुए दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण विमान हादसे में गुजरात के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री एवं भाजपा परिवार के वरिष्ठ सदस्य विजय रूपाणी जी के दुखद निधन का समाचार अत्यंत पीड़ादायक और मन को झकझोर देने वाला है। उनका जाना न केवल गुजरात, बल्कि सम्पूर्ण भारतीय राजनीति के लिए एक अपूरणीय क्षति है।… — Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) June 12, 2025
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
British man survives Gatwick-bound Ahmedabad plane crash
The Air India flight, which was carrying more than 240 people from the city of Ahmedabad – including 53 British nationals, collided with a medical college on Thursday. The Hindustan Times said 40-year-old British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh survived the crash, telling the newspaper: 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.' A video of the crash circulating online showed the aircraft flying over a residential area before disappearing behind trees, followed by a huge explosion and large plumes of black smoke. The public should be prepared for a significant loss of British lives, Downing Street said. Images of the aftermath of the crash showed parts of the plane embedded into BJ Medical College as firefighters continued to tackle the smoke. Pieces of the aircraft's landing gear, fuselage and tail could all be seen protruding from the building. Officials said the flight was departing from Ahmedabad Airport with 242 people on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Air India said on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals. We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171. No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured. Tata Group will… — Tata Group (@TataCompanies) June 12, 2025 Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, said it would provide 10 million rupees (around £86,000) to the families of those who were killed in the crash. The company said it would also cover the medical costs of those injured and provide support in the 'building up' of the medical college the plane crashed into. Divyansh Singh, vice president of the Federation of All India Medical Association, told AP at least five medical students had been killed and around 50 were injured after the plane collided with the college. Campbell Wilson, the chief executive of Air India, expressed his 'deep sorrow' after the incident, adding: 'This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones.' (PA Graphics) UK officials are being deployed to India to support the investigation, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said. The King said he was 'desperately shocked' by the incident and Buckingham Palace said he was being kept updated on the developing situation. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the crash was 'devastating', while his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi said it was 'heartbreaking beyond words'. Asked if people should prepare for a significant loss of life, a Downing Street spokesman told reporters: 'Yes. 'As the PM said this morning, the scenes emerging of the London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city at Ahmedabad are devastating. 'Clearly this is a deeply distressing time for families. The situation is still unfolding.' Air India chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran described the incident as a 'tragic accident' and a 'devastating event', and said emergency response teams are at the site. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has stood up a crisis team in India and the UK, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. Search and rescue teams attended the scene in Ahmedabad (Ajit Solanki/AP) The Reuters news agency reported 217 adults and 11 children were on board the flight. Gatwick said a reception centre was being set up for relatives of passengers on board the Air India flight. It is the first crash involving a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. Flightradar24 said flight tracking data shows after taking off, the plane reached a maximum altitude of 625ft, which is about 425ft above the airport. It then started to descend at a rate of 475 feet per minute. A message from His Majesty The King following this morning's tragic incident in Ahmedabad. — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 12, 2025 Air India was acquired by Tata Group from the Indian government in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline's UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. It started operating flights to Gatwick in March 2023, with 12 weekly departures and five weekly departures to Ahmedabad. Gatwick said there was no impact on wider flight operations at the airport, but a Thursday evening flight to Goa had been cancelled. Recent analysis by the PA news agency found it was the worst airline for delays to flights from UK airports last year, with planes taking off by an average of more than 45 minutes later than scheduled. The Reuters news agency reported 217 adults and 11 children were on board the flight (Ajit Solanki/AP) The airline has gained a poor reputation for delays and cancellations in recent years, partly caused by a lack of funds to purchase spare aircraft parts, which led to some of its fleet being grounded. The first flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft involved in the crash was in December 2013. The plane was delivered to Air India during the following month. The FCDO said any British nationals requiring consular assistance, or who have concerns about family or friends, should call 020 7008 5000.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
British man survives fatal India plane crash
One British passenger has survived a crash involving a London-bound plane which crashed shortly after take-off in India, it has been reported. The Air India flight, which was carrying more than 240 people from the city of Ahmedabad - including 53 British nationals, collided with a medical college. The Hindustan Times reported that 40-year-old British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh survived the crash. He told the newspaper: "Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly." A video of the crash circulating online showed the aircraft flying over a residential area before disappearing behind trees, followed by a huge explosion and large plumes of black smoke. Images of the aftermath of the crash showed parts of the plane embedded into BJ Medical College as firefighters continued to tackle the smoke. Pieces of the aircraft's landing gear, fuselage and tail could all be seen protruding from the building. Officials said the flight was departing from Ahmedabad Airport with 242 people on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Air India said on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals. Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, said it would provide 10 million rupees (€101,000) to the families of those who were killed in the crash. The company said it would also cover the medical costs of those injured and provide support in the "building up" of the medical college the plane crashed into. Divyansh Singh, vice president of the Federation of All India Medical Association, told AP at least five medical students had been killed and around 50 were injured after the plane collided with the college. Campbell Wilson, the chief executive of Air India, expressed his "deep sorrow" after the incident. "This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones," he said. UK officials are being deployed to India to support the investigation, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the crash was "devastating", while his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi said it was "heartbreaking beyond words". Air India chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran described the incident as a "tragic accident" and a "devastating event", and said emergency response teams are at the site. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has stood up a crisis team in India and the UK, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. Gatwick said a reception centre was being set up for relatives of passengers on board the Air India flight. It is the first crash involving a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. Flightradar24 said flight tracking data shows after taking off, the plane reached a maximum altitude of 625ft, which is about 425ft above the airport. It then started to descend at a rate of 475 feet per minute. Air India was acquired by Tata Group from the Indian government in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline's UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Recent analysis by the PA news agency found it was the worst airline for delays to flights from UK airports last year, with planes taking off by an average of more than 45 minutes later than scheduled. The airline has gained a poor reputation for delays and cancellations in recent years, partly caused by a lack of funds to purchase spare aircraft parts, which led to some of its fleet being grounded.
