• More than 200 feared dead: There were 242 passengers and crew members aboard the Air India flight, the airline said, including Indian, British, Portuguese and Canadian nationals. The city police commissioner told The Associated Press that it appears there are no survivors.
• Boeing’s response: The plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, according to Flightradar24. It’s the first major incident involving the aircraft, and Boeing said it is ready to support Air India.
• Safety record: Air India has seen a few rare but high-profile plane crashes through the years. Previous accidents have spurred Indian authorities to improve its safety and infrastructure, but challenges remain.
What we know so far
• What happened: A passenger plane en route to London crashed on departure at an airport in India’s western city of Ahmedabad. Video shows witnesses rushing toward a giant black plume of smoke outside the airport.
Video shows the moment plane crashes shortly after takeoff
Video shared to social media video shows flames and thick smoke billowing into the air as the Air India passenger plane crashed shortly after takeoff.
The plane had departed Ahmedabad’s airport and was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport.
