A plane travelling from India to the UK has crashed and footage shows plumes of smoke rising from the crash site.
Authorities have confirmed flight AI171, that was travelling from Ahmedabad in India to London Gatwick, has crashed not long after taking off.
Indian authorities have confirmed that over 240 passengers were on board the plane but have not said how many fatalities there have been
Flight tracking website, Flightradar, stated the Air India plane’s final flight signal was received just seconds after takeoff and was lost at 10.08am local time, less than a minute after taking off
The London-bound plane crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the Directorate of Civil Aviation, has told the Associated Press.
He added that of the 242 on board, 230 were passengers and 12 were crew members
Rescue teams have been mobilized and emergency services are already on the scene, with some people reportedly being seen taken away on stretchers
A fire following the crash has resulted in a large plume of smoke rising into the sky near the airport.
India’s civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, has commented on the incident.
He said: “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 mobilized, and 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 Chairman of the airline, N Chandrasekaran, has also issued a statement and offered his condolences, saying this appears to be a ‘tragic accident
