A PASSENGER plane heading to London has crash landed in India with 53 Brits on board.
At least 242 people were on board the Air India aircraft as it smashed into the ground near to an airport in Ahmedabad.
A plane has crash landed in India with plumes of black smoke seen billowing through the sky[/caption]
Emergency officials rushed to the site of the crash[/caption]
The plane was headed to London Gatwick in the UK, Air India confirmed.
It’s understood there were 53 Brits on board, as well as 169 Indian, one Canadian and seven Portuguese passengers, according to a source.
According to flight tracking website Flightradar, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s final signal was received just seconds after take-off.
This was last logged at 10.08am local time – less than a minute after it started its journey.
It had only reached 625 feet at the time, officials believe.
In a statement the airline said: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in an accident on 12 June 2025.
“At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest opportunity.”
Police said the plane crashed into a “civilian area” in Meghaninagar.
Officials are yet to comment on if there are any casualties.
The aircraft was attempting to take off from Ahmedabad Airport when it crashed, local TV channels reported.
A fireball explosion is said to have erupted near to the airport as footage shows thick plumes of black smoke quickly pouring into the skies.
The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services Department quickly deployed over five fire-fighting teams to the site as well as dozens of ambulances.
Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, the Civil Aviation Minister, said in a statement: “Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad.
“We are on highest alert. 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 mobilised, 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.”
It is still unclear what caused the disaster.
