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Canada Standard
2 days ago
- General
- Canada Standard
"Our thoughts are with all those affected": UK High Commission on Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport
New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): The UK High Commission in India has said that it is aware of the tragic plane crash in the Meghaninagar area near Ahmedabad airport and is working with local authorities to establish the facts and provide support. The ill-fated flight was en route from Ahmedabad to London. In a statement shared on X, the UK High Commission in India said, 'We are aware that a flight from Ahmedabad to London has crashed near Ahmedabad airport. We are working with local authorities to urgently establish the facts and provide support. Our thoughts are with all those affected.' The UK High Commission in India also shared a helpline number for British nationals requiring consular assistance. 'British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 020 7008 5000,' it said. According to an Air India statement, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171, departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm IST with 242 people on board, including crew. 'The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals. We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information,' the airline said in a statement. Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran confirmed the crash and expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims. 'With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating from Ahmedabad to 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 said in a statement. He added that the airline's immediate focus is on extending full support to those impacted by the tragedy. '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,' Chandrasekaran said. 'Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and a support team have been set up for families seeking information,' he added. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that a team has been rushed to the spot for investigation. 'On 12th Jun, 2025, Air India B787 Aircraft VT-ANB, while operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, has crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board the aircraft, consisting of 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew,' said a senior DGCA official. The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an LTC with 8,200 hours of flying experience. He was assisted by with First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flying experience, the official said. As per Air Traffic Control (ATC), the aircraft departed from Runway 23 at 1339 IST (0809 UTC). It gave a mayday call to ATC, but thereafter, no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC. 'Aircraft immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site,' the official added. (ANI)
India Gazette
2 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
"Our thoughts are with all those affected": UK High Commission on Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport
New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): The UK High Commission in India has said that it is aware of the tragic plane crash in the Meghaninagar area near Ahmedabad airport and is working with local authorities to establish the facts and provide support. The ill-fated flight was en route from Ahmedabad to London. In a statement shared on X, the UK High Commission in India said, 'We are aware that a flight from Ahmedabad to London has crashed near Ahmedabad airport. We are working with local authorities to urgently establish the facts and provide support. Our thoughts are with all those affected.' The UK High Commission in India also shared a helpline number for British nationals requiring consular assistance. 'British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 020 7008 5000,' it said. According to an Air India statement, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171, departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm IST with 242 people on board, including crew. 'The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals. We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information,' the airline said in a statement. Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran confirmed the crash and expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims. 'With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating from Ahmedabad to 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 said in a statement. He added that the airline's immediate focus is on extending full support to those impacted by the tragedy. '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,' Chandrasekaran said. 'Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and a support team have been set up for families seeking information,' he added. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that a team has been rushed to the spot for investigation. 'On 12th Jun, 2025, Air India B787 Aircraft VT-ANB, while operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, has crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board the aircraft, consisting of 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew,' said a senior DGCA official. The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an LTC with 8,200 hours of flying experience. He was assisted by with First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flying experience, the official said. As per Air Traffic Control (ATC), the aircraft departed from Runway 23 at 1339 IST (0809 UTC). It gave a mayday call to ATC, but thereafter, no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC. 'Aircraft immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site,' the official added. (ANI)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
UK reacts to Air India Crash: Starmer 'deeply distressed', King Charles briefed, British High Commission offers support
Live Events British High Commission, Royal Family looped in — UKinIndia (@UKinIndia) Tragic end to London-bound journey (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday said he is being 'kept updated as the situation develops' following the crash of Air India Flight AI171 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Describing it as a 'deeply distressing time,' Starmer expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. The Labour party leader also expressed deep sorrow over the crash that involved several British nationals 'The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating,' Starmer said in a statement. 'I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time.'The incident involved Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner , which crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London Gatwick. The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 53 British nationals, according to the Tata-owned in a post on social media platform X, the British High Commission in New Delhi confirmed awareness of the crash and said it is actively coordinating with Indian authorities.'We are aware that a flight from Ahmedabad to London has crashed near Ahmedabad airport. We are working with local authorities to urgently establish the facts and provide support. Our thoughts are with all those affected,' the High Commission mission also shared a link to updated travel advisories and encouraged families of British nationals onboard to reach out for consular assistance. Additional support staff are being mobilised to liaise with Indian officials and offer help to survivors and their addition, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles III has been kept informed of the crash and its aftermath. A spokesperson told AFP that the King is 'being kept updated about the Air India plane crash.'The monarch's involvement underlines the scale of the tragedy and the attention it is receiving at the highest levels in the flight departed Ahmedabad at 1:39 pm and made a distress (MAYDAY) call shortly after takeoff, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). No further communication was received from the aircraft before it crashed just outside the airport perimeter, sending up plumes of black cause of the crash is under investigation. At the time of writing, there has been no official confirmation of casualties, though several are feared dead. Emergency services, including six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, are continuing rescue and recovery Tata-owned airline and Indian authorities are expected to release further details as investigations progress. The airline has set up an emergency response centre and dedicated support teams to aid affected families.
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First Post
2 days ago
- General
- First Post
Ahmedabad plane crash: Passengers from India, UK, Portugal and Canada were on board
Air India confirmed that the ill-fated plane was carrying passengers of four nationalities. Of the 242 passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, 1 Canadian and 7 Portuguese read more An Air India passenger plane bound for London with 244 people onboard Thursday (June 12) in Ahmedabad, the airline and local authorities confirmed. The Indian carrier, in a statement, said that the plane was carrying people of four nationalities. 'The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals,' it said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The airline said it was cooperating with the authorities for the investigation into the accident. The UK high commission also issued a statement, saying it was in touch with local authorities to establish facts. More from India Ahmedabad plane crash: 40 feared dead as Air India plane crashes 5 minutes after take-off 'We are aware that a flight from Ahmedabad to London has crashed near Ahmedabad airport. We are working with local authorities to urgently establish the facts and provide support. Our thoughts are with all those affected' We are aware that a flight from Ahmedabad to London has crashed near Ahmedabad airport. We are working with local authorities to urgently establish the facts and provide support. Our thoughts are with all those — UK in India🇬🇧🇮🇳 (@UKinIndia) June 12, 2025 The plane crashed soon after taking off from Ahmedabad International Airport around 2 pm, police said. 'We are acquiring details about the casualties,' said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kanan Desai. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze, said fire officer Jayesh Khadia. Several injured persons were taken to city civil hospital, an official said. A large plume of black smoke was seen rising from the locality soon after the crash. Emergency responders reached the site promptly and have launched intensive rescue, evacuation, and firefighting operations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
