Two survivors have been found after an Air India flight headed for London Gatwick with more than 240 people on board crashed in India shortly after takeoff on Thursday, according to a report.
There were previously believed to be no survivors when the plane plummeted into a residential area shortly after leaving an airport in the western city of Ahmedabad. Footage from the scene showed huge clouds of black smoke billowing from the crash site.
A report from Ani news agency, citing police, said one survivor was found before another was found in hospital in treatment.
More than 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, local police said, but the total fatality count remains unclear as rescuers work through the charred wreckage.
There were 242 people on board the flight, including 12 crew members. Air India said the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens and one Canadian.
Both the Indian and British prime ministers said authorities were keeping them updated about the incident.
“It is heartbreaking beyond words,” Narendra Modi said on X. Sir Keir Starmer said the scenes were “devastating”.
Families in India with concerns should call Air India on 1800 5691 444. For those outside India, call the British Foreign Office on 020 7008 5000
Boeing share price drops sharply following crash
The Independent’s business and money editor Karl Matchett reports:
While the focus is with on-the-ground efforts following the crash in India, airline Boeing is also counting the cost to the business as the share price drops sharply in pre-trading. Ahead of the markets opening in an hour and a half, Boeing stock is down about 7.4 per cent. In market capitalisation terms, that’s just shy of $12bn (£8.8bn).
The Boeing share price took a battering across much of 2024 due to several planes being grounded on engine safety concerns, this is reportedly the first crash involving a 787 Dreamliner since the model’s introduction.
Crashes in 2018 and 2019 were using a different model which was initially taken out of service. Last month Boeing agreed to pay just over $1bn (£810m) to avoid prosecution over those two incidents. Boeing have not released a detailed statement yet other than to say they are aware of the reports and gathering information.
Alex Croft12 June 2025 14:52
In pictures: Heartbreak as family member learns of brother’s death
Alex Croft12 June 2025 14:49
Watch: Footage shows devastation inside medical college struck by Air India flight
Alex Croft12 June 2025 14:33
US investigators to assist with plane crash probe
A team of US investigators will travel to India to assist with the investigation into the plane crash on Thursday.
The team will be lead by experts from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the organisation announced.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had earlier said it was in contact with the NTSB regarding the crash.
Alex Croft12 June 2025 14:23
Simon Calder: India crash is heartbreaking – but aviation isn’t becoming more dangerous
Travel correspondent Simon Calder has been writing about the “heartbreaking loss of Air India flight AI171”.
Many prospective travellers will see the images of the Indian tragedy, and three other passenger jet crashes in the past six months, and conclude that aviation is becoming more dangerous.
Yet without diminishing these disasters and the devastating human toll, this remains the safest decade in aviation history. Such is the obsession with safety among aviation professionals that many risks have been engineered out. The last fatal accident involving a UK passenger jet was in the 1980s.
As news emerged of the tragedy in India, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) was publishing its Annual Safety Review for 2024.
In the report, Crispin Orr, the chief inspector, said: ‘Commercial aviation remains one of the safest forms of public transport, with global accident rates continuing their long-term decline.’
This is particularly relevant at a time when the terrible death toll on the roads of India shows no sign of decline; on a typical day, sadly nearly 500 people lose their lives in traffic accidents.
Simon Calder, The Independent’s travel correspondent
Alex Croft12 June 2025 14:12
More reaction from around the world
We have some more reaction from world leaders to bring you, after what appears to be one of the worst aviation disasters in history.
French president Emmanuel Macron said: “We have learned with deep emotion of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. In this time of sorrow, I extend our heartfelt thoughts to the victims’ loved ones and to Prime Minister @NarendraModi.”
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese described it as “absolutely devastating”, adding that Australia’s thoughts “are with everyone affected”.
Irish prime minister Michael Martin said Ireland is “thinking of the families of all those on board, along with the emergency services attending the scene”, while EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Europe “stands in solidarity with [India prime minister Narendra Modi] and the people of India in this moment of sorrow”
And Russian president Vladimir Putin offered words of condolence to the Indian prime minister. “Please convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wishes of a swift recovery to all those injured in this catastrophe,” he said.
Alex Croft12 June 2025 14:02
At least 204 bodies recovered from crash site so far – Indian police
Indian police have now confirmed that at least 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site so far.
It is not clear how many of these are people from the plane and how many are people who were already on the ground, the local police chief has said.
Alex Croft12 June 2025 13:54
First view of inside the building struck by plane
Alex Croft12 June 2025 13:45
Bird strike may have caused crash, says plane expert
The Air India plane crash may have been caused by a bird strike, a former pilot said.
Saurabh Bhatnagar told Indian news TV channel New Delhi Television LTD the incident appears to involve “multiple bird hits”.
He said: “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.”
He added that footage show the plane “came down in a controlled fashion”.
Bird strikes are defined as a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight, taking-off or landing.
A large flock of birds entering an aircraft engine can cause power loss.
Efforts to reduce the number of bird strikes include using lights on planes to make them more visible to birds, and making loud noises at airports to scare them away.
Latest Civil Aviation Authority figures show there were 1,432 incidents reported in the UK in 2022.
Alex Croft12 June 2025 13:37
King and Queen ‘desperately shocked’ after crash
The King has said he is “desperately shocked” by the plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday morning.
In a statement posted on X, King Charles said: “My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning.
“Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones.
“I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time.”
Alex Croft12 June 2025 13:29
