An Air India plane headed to London with more than 240 people on board crashed near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in India’s western city of Ahmedabad, minutes after taking off from India’s western city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, the airline and police said, without specifying whether there were any fatalities.
According to a news agency, there were 242 people on board the aircraft. The plane crashed into a residential area shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport.
Indian media reported that several VIPs were also on board the flight. Rescue officials have reached the crash site and are assessing the damage. So far, 110 deaths have been confirmed in the incident.
According to the news agency, out of the 242 people on board, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, one was Canadian, and seven were Portuguese citizens. The ill-fated plane was also carrying 11 children.
According to the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Air India Boeing 787 aircraft crashed immediately after takeoff. Among the 242 people on board were two pilots and ten cabin crew members. The aircraft fell to the ground just outside the airport limits shortly after departing the runway.
Indian media also reported that former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, was among the passengers. Following the crash, all flight operations at Ahmedabad Airport have been suspended.
