A London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad in western India on Thursday morning.
Flight AI171, en route to London Gatwick, lost contact with air traffic control just seconds after take-off, according to tracking service Flightradar24, which noted the aircraft’s last signal was recorded at an altitude of 625 feet (190 metres).
The Boeing aircraft was carrying 169 Indian nationals, along with 53 British passengers, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian national, Air India confirmed in a statement.
Eyewitness videos circulating on social media show thick black smoke billowing from a residential area near the crash site, raising concerns over potential casualties on the ground. Emergency services have rushed to the scene, and rescue operations are underway.
Air India has not yet released details regarding the number of survivors or the cause of the crash. The airline said it is working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
This developing story is being monitored closely, and updates will follow as investigations continue.