New footage on social media shows the moment that an Air India flight tragically crashed into a residential area.
Air India Flight AI171 - a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew en route to London Gatwick went down just moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India.
According to BBC News, the flight took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 10:08AM local time.
But within less than a minute, disaster struck. The aircraft’s transponder signal disappeared at just 625 feet above the ground.
The plane then crashed into a densely populated residential area, sending a towering plume of smoke into the sky and leaving wreckage scattered across demolished buildings.
Shocking images from the scene, shared widely on social media, reveal the magnitude of the destruction.
Watch below:Air India issued a statement confirming the nationalities of those on board: “Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off.
"The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals.
"The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals. We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information.
"Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident."
According to Reuters, 217 adults and 11 children were traveling on the flight.
Reactions have flooded in from across the world, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating on X: "The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.
"In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the horrifying events in a public statement, saying: "The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.
"I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time."
Reports also confirm that King Charles is being kept informed of the unfolding tragedy.
According to Sky News, the plane crashed into a doctors' hostel, and around 30 bodies have reportedly been pulled from the rubble so far.
Others have been found alive and have been taken to the hospital.
At the time of writing, one passenger from the plane has been found alive and was able to walk away from the crash site.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was sitting in seat 11A, told the Hindustan Times: "Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly."
"When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran," he added. "There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital."
In the wake of the tragedy, all outgoing flights from Ahmedabad’s international airport have been suspended until further notice.
Rescue efforts are ongoing.