Police give update on UK-bound plane that crashed after take off and suggest there are ‘no survivors’

Police in India have released an official statement in response to news that an aircraft travelling from Ahmedabad to Gatwick Airport and carrying more than 240 passengers has tragically crashed.

The flight's airline, Air India, initially broke the news in a statement, writing on X (formerly Twitter): "Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025."

Flight Radar, the global flight tracking website, also confirmed that the flight - a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner - was scheduled to fly at 09:50 local time, and was intended to arrive at 18:25.

Representatives of the site also claimed 'the last signal' they received from the aircraft ' was 'at 08:08:51 UTC, just seconds after take off'.

Of the 242 onboard, Air India said there were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian.

Photos from the scene show a large grey cloud of smoke (Sky News)

City police commissioner has now confirmed to the Associated Press that there appear to be no survivors from Air India airliner that crashed.

“It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,” Commissioner G.S. Malik told the outlet. He added that with the plane crashing in a residential area with offices, 'some locals would have also died'.

"Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained," Mailk continued.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also said 'the scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating'.

The aircraft is reported to have crashed in a residential area called Meghani Nagar, just outside Ahmedabad's airport perimeter.

Videos and photographs from the scene have since been shared on social media, showing clouds of grey smoke rising, and individuals carried away on stretchers towards ambulances.

The chairman of Air India, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, also released a statement on the crash online.

"With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India flight, AI 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today," he wrote. "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.

Police have since spoken out on the devastating crash (Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.

Chandrasekaran continued: "Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families."

Bhupendra Patel - the Chief Minister of Gujarat, where Ahmedabad is state capital - has also issued statement on X.

"I am deeply saddened by the accident of the Air India passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad," he wrote. "I have instructed the officials to take immediate rescue and relief operations in the accident and to make arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured passengers on a war footing.

"I have also instructed to arrange a green corridor to take the injured passengers for treatment and to ensure all the treatment arrangements in the hospital on priority.

"The Honorable Union Home Minister Shri Amitbhai Shah has also spoken to me and assured full support of the NDRF teams and the Central Government for the rescue and relief operations in this plane crash."