'Devastating': UK mourns loss of lives

The UK government termed the crash London-bound Air India flight, with 242 people on board, "devastating," with UK foreign secretary David Lammy announcing that a crisis team will be created in New Delhi and London to support British nationals and their families who have been affected by the crash.

- Danish Khan

LONDON:

The flight that took off from Ahmedabad in Gujarat at 1.38 pm on Thursday only to crash seconds later, had 53 British nationals on board.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, "The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating. I am being updated as the situation develops and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time."

Few months ago, the Ahmedabad-London Air India service was increased from three to five weekly flights due to increased demand. Around 800,000 British nationals of Gujarati origin, along with their relatives and friends, constitute a large chunk of Indians who travel frequently between India and the United Kingdom.

The Gatwick-bound flight which crashed on Thursday was scheduled to land at Gatwick Airport at 6.25 pm (UK time).