Air India flight crashed, US investigation team arrives. 204 bodies recovered. Boeing: 'We investigate'

- UK aviation experts wonder about the 'mystery' of the undercarriage left out in the Air India Boeing 787 crash today in the city of Ahmedabad shortly after take-off. Paul Edwards, an aviation safety analyst and member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, said that normally pilots retract the landing gear so that the aircraft can be more aerodynamic and gain altitude quickly, and it is unclear why this was not done by Air India flight 171. "There are two things necessary for an aircraft to take off. One is adequate speed and the other is rapid climb,' Edwards pointed out, 'and this plane had neither.' In a newly released video, with a view of the runway, it is clear that the Boeing struggles to get up with its undercarriage out and gradually loses altitude. While some pilots who analysed the footage of the moments before the accident reported to Sky News that the wing flaps do not appear to be in the normal take-off position. At the moment, however, one can only speculate on the causes of the disaster, ranging from a possible failure of the Boeing 787's engines to possible errors made by the crew.

At least five medical students were killed and nearly 50 injured after an Air India plane crashed into a student residence. This was stated by Divyansh Singh, vice-president of the Federation of All India Medical Association, a national body representing resident doctors in India. "Some of the injured are in critical condition. We are in close contact with our colleagues in the hospital who are trying to locate other people who are feared to be buried in the debris,' he said.

Over 290 people died in the plane crash in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, a police officer told Reuters. The figure is arrived at considering that in addition to the 242 people on board the plane, there were those who were hit on the ground.

Una famiglia piange la morte di un parente ucciso nel disastro aereo dell’Air India REUTERS/Amit Dave

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani died in the plane crash, the Indian Civil Aviation Minister told reporters.

Rupani, 68, was prime minister of the western Indian state from 2016 to 2021. He was a member of the ruling BJP party.

"Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. Everything happened so fast'. These are the words of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a survivor of the plane crash involving an Air India aircraft in Ahmedabad. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Ramesh said he "suffered injuries", including bruises on his chest, eyes and feet, but was otherwise lucid and conscious. "When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I got up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed me and put me in an ambulance and took me to hospital,' said the man, a British-Indian who lives in London and was in Ahmedabad visiting family. Ramesh said he had been living in London for the past 20 years and had travelled to India with his brother, who was also on the plane

There would be at least one survivor among the 242 people who were on board the London-bound Air India Boeing 787 that crashed today over a residential area within seconds of take-off from the Indian city of Ahmedabad, contrary to initial police assessments. Local media reported this, citing an investigator who said that a passenger, seated in seat 11A, was miraculously rescued while still alive and taken to hospital. His condition and prospects for survival are unclear at the moment.

"We are heartbroken to learn the news of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. My prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones in this terrible accident. We continue to monitor developments and stand with rescue workers who are committed to helping those affected. This was written by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in a note

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that it will lead a team of US investigators that will travel to India to assist in the investigation of the plane crash that occurred today. Also today, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was ready to send a support team after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in India, in cooperation with the NTSB.

"The Ntsb will lead a team of US investigators who will travel to India to assist the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau in investigating the Air India Boeing 787 crash that occurred today in Ahmedabad, India," the body said on X.

"Deeply saddened by the tragedy involving an Air India plane near Ahmedabad", Pope Leo XIV sends "his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives, together with the assurance of prayers for all those involved in the recovery efforts". This condolence was expressed in a telegram sent on behalf of the pontiff by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. "Assigning the souls of the departed to the mercy of the Almighty - we read further - His Holiness invokes upon all those affected the divine blessings of healing and peace".

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The Ahmedabad police chief told the BBC that 204 bodies were recovered from the crash site. At the moment, the BBC points out, it is not clear whether the 204 bodies belong to people who were on board the plane or on the ground at the time of the crash.

At least 50 medical students were taken to hospital following the crash of an Air India flight, shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport with 242 people on board, into the dining hall of a medical school residence. This was reported by the BBC citing the All India Federation of Medical Associations (Faima). According to the Federation, about 50-60 medical students have been taken to hospital, five are missing and at least two are in intensive care. Relatives of some doctors are also missing.

Boeing is ready to help Air India. The US skies giant said this after the tragic accident, emphasising that itsends its "thoughts" to "all those affected".

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, sent the following message to the President of the Republic of India, Droupadi Murmu: 'With feelings of profound sadness I have learnt the news of the air disaster near Ahmedabad, which claimed so many lives. In the face of a mournful event of such magnitude, Italy extends its sympathy and closeness to the friendly people of India. On behalf of the Italian Republic, I extend my heartfelt condolences to you, to the families of the victims of all nationalities and to India as a whole'.

At least 60 charred bodies have already been recovered at the scene of this morning's plane crash in India, including 10 in the dormitory of the Ahmedabad Medical School, on the roof of which the London-bound Air India flight crashed, the Indian daily New Indian Express reported. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that 242 people, including two pilots and ten flight attendants, were on board the plane that crashed in the country.

There are 'no survivors' among the 242 people who were on board the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London. This was reported by the local police chief as quoted by Indian and international media, based on preliminary investigations conducted so far.

The death toll of today's plane crash in Ahmedabad, in the Indian state of Gujarat, is currently reported to be 133, according to broadcaster News18.

The crash of Air India Flight 171 after take-off from Ahmedabad in north-western India is a 'tragedy' that 'breaks our hearts'. This was stated by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.'The tragedy in Ahmedabad has shocked and saddened us all. It breaks our hearts in an indescribable way,' Modi wrote on his X account, sending his 'thoughts' 'to all those affected'.

"Deeply saddened by the tragic air disaster in Ahmedabad. On behalf of the Italian government and my own, I express my sincerest condolences to the families of the victims and our full solidarity with the Indian people at this time of great sorrow," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote in a post on X.

Boeing's initial reaction to the new fatal accident involving one of its aircraft is tentative: this time an Air India 787-8 Dreamliner crashed today over a residential area seconds after take-off from the Indian city of Ahmedabad with 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board. "We are aware of the initial reports and are working to gather more information," a statement addressed to the international media by the US aviation giant reads for now.

The plane that crashed in India crashed into a hostel for doctors. This was reported by a police official in Ahmedabad to the Indian news agency Ani, as reported by the BBC. Rescue operations are ongoing.

Prime Minister Keir Sarmer expressed his condolences at the 'devastating scenes' of the crash today involving a London-bound Air India Boeing 787, which crashed in a residential area of Ahmedabad shortly after take-off, with 169 Indian, 53 British, seven Portuguese and one Canadian passengers on board, as well as 12 crew members. "The scenes emerging from the plane that crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad with so many British nationals on board are devastating," Starmer wrote: "I am updated on developments constantly and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families in moments of deep anguish."

Air India has now provided the breakdown of the different nationalities on board flight AI171: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals. The airline says that the injured were transported to the nearest hospitals.

"We are on high alert. I am personally monitoring the situation'. This was reported by India's Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, following the crash of the Air India flight with over 200 people on board that crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport. The flight was bound for London Gatwick Airport. The minister reported that rescue teams have been mobilised and that everything possible is being done to ensure medical assistance and rescue on the ground.

The Air India plane bound for London that crashed today broke contact with the control tower seconds after take-off. According to Flight Radar data reported by the Indian media and the BBC, the aircraft was at an altitude of only 625 feet, or about 200 metres, at that time.

The AI 171 flight that crashed in India today was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. This was reported by Air India, quoted by India Today. In a post on X, the airline stated that 'flight AI171 was operating on the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick route. We are currently,' the airline added, 'verifying the details and will share further updates as soon as possible on airindia.com and on our X account'. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu is on his way to the crash site of Air India's Boeing 787, which crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, writes India Today.

An Air India plane with more than 200 people on board crashed near the airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, airline and police officials said on Thursday.