Air India crash live updates: ‘No survivors expected’ as plane bound for London carrying 242 people crashes in Ahmedabad

If you’re just joining us, we have been reporting live updates from the Air India plane crash as flight 171 plummeted to the ground shortly after it departed Ahmedabad on its way to London Gatwick.

Air India has confirmed 242 people were on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft including 53 British nationals.

Police have said they do not expect there to be any survivors, with more deaths expected on the ground after the jet crashed into a hostel housing medical staff.

The crash is one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s history and emergency services are still at the scene.

Here’s what you need to know.

• Air India flight 171 crashed into a medical college in Meghani shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.17pm local time.
• The airline has confirmed the plane was carrying 230 passengers, two pilots and 10 crew members and added 53 of those on board are British nationals.
• Video appears to show the plane struggling to achieve lift before crashing to the ground with the pilot reportedly issuing a Mayday call shortly after taking off
• According to preliminary information, the plane reached approximately 825 feet when it suddenly descended
• A police chief in Ahmedabad said it appears there are no survivors in the crash
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the tragedy is ‘heartbreaking beyond words’ while Sir Keir Starmer and King Charles are receiving regular updates

An eyewitness has told how there were ‘many bodies lying on the ground’ in the aftermath of the crash.

The man, who was not named, told reporters: ‘I was sitting at home, there was a loud noise, it felt like an earthquake.

‘I came out and saw smoke, I didn’t realise it was a plane crash, then I came here and I found out and I saw the crashed plane – there were many bodies lying on the ground.’

He wore a surgical mask as he spoke to the BBC at the site, with smoke seen billowing around him.

Ahmedabad police chief has said it appears no-one has survived the crash.

‘It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,’ Commissioner G.S. Malik told reporters.

He added that with the plane crashing in a residential area with offices, ‘some locals would have also died.’

‘Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained,’ he said.

New photographs show the wreckage of Air India flight 171 after it crashed into a doctors’ hostel in Meghani shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport.

Plane parts are among the debris as rescuers scramble to find the 242 people on board the plane with many said to be killed.

Footage has emerged of the moment passengers at Ahmedabad airport saw Air India flight 171 crash just before they themselves were about to board flights.

Video posted by Asian News International shows travellers walking to their gates before they catch sight of smoke billowing near the airport.

Another eyewitness, who was at the airport at the time of the crash, told the Times of India: ‘As I was going to board an Indigo flight, I saw thick smoke coming out in the distance.

‘Soon after boarding the aircraft, an announcement for a flight delay was made. Later, we got to know through the media that a flight had crashed.’

India’s aviation ministry has confirmed flights will resume from Ahmedabad airport.

All planes had been grounded and operations temporarily suspended in the aftermath of the Air India 171 crash.

Ahmedabad airport has set up an assistance area for families of those who were travelling to London Gatwick.

More than 100 bodies were brought to a hospital in India’s Ahmedabad after the Air India plane crash, local police have said.

Local media is reporting that at least 91 people have died in the crash after their bodies were brought into hospitals across Gujarat state.

Authorities are yet to confirm the exact number of fatalities but the country’s health minister has said there are ‘many’ that have been killed.

Preliminary flight tracking data from the Boeing 787-8 reveals a concerning takeoff pattern in the moments before the aircraft crashed, according to an aviation expert.

Data logs appear to show that the jet stayed on the ground or taxiing slowly for more than four minutes after it first appeared on public trackers.

It increased sharply in speed to 174 knots at 08.08 local time, with an altitude of 625 feet – far below standard for a commercial aircraft several minutes into departure.

No further altitude gains were recorded.

Lt Col John R Davidson, a former US Air Force pilot commented on the data: ‘From the data available, AIC171 appears to have reached takeoff speed – but not altitude.

‘To be at 625 feet at over 170 knots more than four minutes after rolling out is highly irregular. This suggests either a very late rotation or a stall shortly after takeoff.

‘There are a number of possible scenarios: thrust or engine performance issues, excessive aircraft weight, poor trim or flap configuration, or a more critical failure that affected the aircraft’s ability to climb. Weather, windshear or even bird strike can’t be ruled out either at this early stage.

‘The low-altitude, high-speed reading at the final moment might indicate a steep nose-down trajectory or a stall event immediately following takeoff.

‘This is consistent with accidents like Spanair Flight 5022 and Flydubai Flight 981, where mechanical or environmental factors combined with compromised lift performance led to loss of control during or just after liftoff.’

But he cautioned: ‘Flight data alone isn’t enough to determine fault — but it tells us this aircraft never truly made it airborne in a meaningful way. Whatever happened, it happened fast, and right at the most critical phase of flight.’

This image shows the back of the Air India plane as it became embedded in a building following the crash in Ahmedabad.

Released by the Central Industrial Security Force, the plane’s tail can be seen after it landed into a doctors’ hostel which has also been described as a medical college in the Meghani area.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has stood up a crisis team in India and the UK, David Lammy has said.

The Foreign Secretary told the Commons:

My thoughts and I’m sure those of the entire House are with those who’ve been affected by the tragic plane crash in India this morning.

We know that British nationals were on board and I can confirm that the FCDO is working urgently with local authorities to support British nationals and their families, and has stood up a crisis team in both Delhi and in London.

A woman has told Indian media that her son jumped from a second-floor window when the plane crashed into his hostel – and miraculously survived.

The building is reported to have been full of doctors from a nearby medical centre when Air India flight 171 smashed into it.

‘My son had gone to the hostel during lunch break, and the plane crashed there. My son is safe, and I have spoken to him. He jumped from the second floor, so he suffered some injuries,’ the woman told India’s Ani news agency.

‘The building on which it has crashed is a doctors’ hostel… we have cleared almost 70% to 80% of the area and will clear the rest soon,’ a senior police officer told reporters at the scene.

Local media reports that the building was full of doctors from a nearby medical centre eating their lunch at the time of the crash.

Pictures show food still on the canteen tables in the aftermath.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi expressed shock and sadness over the India Airlines crash in a statement on X.

*warning – scenes may be distressing*

We can now show yoiu footage from the rescue operation in Ahmedabad following the plane crash of flight 171.

An eyewitness who lives close to the crash scene has told Indian media how he saw ‘dead bodies and debris scattered all over’ following the plane crash.

The man, who was interviewed just yards from the scene where the plane plummeted into a medical college, said he came to investigate after he heard a ‘massive sound’ at home.

He told the Press Trust of India news agency:

When we went out to see what had happened, there was a layer of thick smoke in the air. When we came here, dead bodies and debris from the crashed aircraft were scattered all over.

At least 30 bodies have been recovered from a building from a building at the site of a plane crash in India’s western city of Ahmedabad, rescue personnel at the site said.

More people were trapped inside, the rescue workers said.

An experienced pilot was flying Air India flight 171 when it crashed, it has emerged.

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain, had 8,200 hours of flying experience.

First Officer Clive Kundar, who was assisting the captain, had 1,100 hours of flight experience.

The two men were among 12 crewmembers on board at the time of the crash.

Air India has changed its profile picture to a black circle across its social media platforms following the crash this morning.

The airline has temporarily switched from its usual red and white logo in an apparent mark of respect for passengers on board flight 171.

New photographs show crowds starting to build at the crash scene in Ahmedabad as rescuers scramble to find passengers on the crashed Air India flight.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft crashed into a medical colleage before bursting into flames in the Meghani area of the city.

India’s health minister has confirmed ‘many people’ have been killed in the plane crash in the first official confirmation of fatalities.

Jagat Prakash Nadda said he wanted to provide ‘all possible help’ to families affected by the tragedy which is reported to the worst aviation disaster in the nation’s history.

In a statement on X, he said:

The news of many people getting killed in a plane crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat is extremely sad. I appeal to all BJP workers to get involved in relief and rescue work and provide all possible help to the affected families. I pray to God to give strength to the bereaved families to bear the unbearable pain and to provide speedy recovery to the injured.

The King is being kept updated on the developing situation after a Gatwick-bound Air India plane crashed, Buckingham Palace said.

A former pilot has claimed multiple bird hits may have caused Air India flight 171 to crash with both engines losing power.

Reacting to the crash near Ahmedabad airport, captain Saurabh Bhatnagar, an ex-pilot, told NDTV:

It looks, prima facie, like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both the engines have lost power. The take-off was perfect and just, I believe, short of taking the gear up, the aircraft started descending, which can happen only in case the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift. Obviously, the investigation will reveal the exact reason.

Authorities are yet to determine the official cause of the crash.

Bhupendra Patel, Gujurat’s chief minister, has told how a ‘war footing’ has been set up to help Air India passengers who will receive priority treatment at the state’s hospitals.

In a statement on X, Mr Patel wrote:

I am deeply saddened by the accident of the Air India passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad. I have instructed the officials to take immediate rescue and relief operations in the accident and to make arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured passengers on a war footing. I have also instructed to arrange a green corridor to take the injured passengers for treatment and to ensure all the treatment arrangements in the hospital on priority.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is understood to have sent his top officials to Ahmedabad to help with the rescue operation.

It is not yet known if there are any survivors following the crash.

Air traffic control at Ahmedabad airport said the aircraft departed at 1.39pm local time (9.09am BST).

Moments later, the passenger jet sent out a ‘mayday’ call, signalling an emergency.

No response followed the signal, according to officials.

New photographs show Indian firefighters working at the scene of the plane crash after buildings were damaged in the Meghani area of Ahmedabad.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has shared a statement on the Air India plane crash.

The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.

The PM added that he is being kept up to date with the situation.

Air India has released more information regarding the nationalities of passengers.

The airline said 169 passengers are Indian nationals, 53 are British, one is Canadian and seven are Portuguese.

The Reuters news agency reported that 217 adults and 11 children were on board the flight.

The flight was carrying a total of 242 people onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

A spokesperson for Ahmedabad Airport confirmed the plane crashed ‘shortly after takeoff, outside the airport.’

In a statement it added: ‘As a result, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, is currently not operational. All flight operations are temporarily suspended until further notice.

‘Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates before proceeding to the airport.

‘We request your cooperation and patience as authorities manage this evolving situation. Further updates will be provided as soon as available.’

Britain is working with Indian authorities to urgently establish the facts around the Air India plane crash and to provide support to those involved, the foreign office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Commons Leader Lucy Powell said the UK Government will provide ‘all the support that it can’ to those on the flight.

Air India’s Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran shared a heartfelt statement that read: ‘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. 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.’

Fifty-three British nationals were on board an Air India flight bound for Gatwick airport which crashed after take-off in Ahmedabad, Air India said.

The flight manifest included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals, according to officials.

The flight was due to land at London Gatwick at 18.25 tonight, the airport confirmed in a statement.

Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off.

The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the flightradar24 website.

Although officials are yet to release a statement on the crash.

Experts have suggested the amount of fuel used on an international route has worsened the fire following the crash impact, making it a more complicated rescue operation, the Times of India is reporting.

The flight crashed just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad this afternoon.

The Times of India is reporting 242 people were on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane including 230 passengers, two pilots and 10 cabin crew members.

Multiple fire engines and ambulances have been dispatched to the crash scene in the Meghani area of Ahmedabad.

According to the newspaper, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will open a formal investigation along with a possible technical team from Boeing.

Flight tracker website Flightradar24 shared a screenshot showing the last signal from FlightAI171 seconds after the plane took off.

The flight reportedly reached an altitude of just 625 feet before it began to descend, according to the flight tracking service.

Shocking images shared to social media showed a huge trail of smoke rising from the crash site near the international airport this morning.

Sections of the plane’s fuselage and tail were also seen protruding from a building.

Aviation expert Julian Bray told MailOnline: ‘It’s a Boeing Dreamliner that has gone down – not certain whether they’ve managed to get anybody off the plane.

‘If it has indeed crash landed and they can deploy the chutes out then they should be able to get people off in 90 seconds.

‘I am aware there are fire appliances in attendance – this is a major incident.

‘It is very disappointing that it is a Dreamliner as it is a state-of-the-art Boeing.

‘We cannot rule out security issues,’ he said, before advising caution that he can only speculate at this time.

Here is MailOnline’s breaking news story on the Air India crash

An Air India flight bound for London Gatwick carrying 242 passengers and crew has crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat.

Air India flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, careened back to earth in the Meghani area of the city just minutes after leaving the runway.

Shocking images shared to social media showed a huge trail of smoke emanating from the crash site near the international airport this morning.

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage as an Air India flight heading to London crashes in Ahmedabad.

Early reports state 242 people were on board the plane which was heading to London Gatwick.

Stick with us as we bring you live updates on this breaking story.