All 242 people on board Air India Flight AI171 are feared to have died after the London-bound aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Among the passengers were 53 British nationals, now believed to be among the dead, according to police officials.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plunged into the mess hall of a local medical college, killing passengers and reportedly several people on the ground. Police sources confirmed that 204 bodies are to be recovered, with only a portion retrieved so far. Officials say no survivors are expected.
Amid mounting sorrow, King Charles III released a statement, expressing the shock and sympathies of the Royal Family :
“Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones.”
Stories have now begun to emerge in fragments of heartbreak of people board this tragic flight. Several onboard were reportedly parents of students flying to the UK to attend their children’s graduation ceremonies. Founders of the UK-based wellness company Wellness Foundry, Jamie Meek and Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, were also said to be on board. Their final Instagram stories, posted just hours before departure, are now circulating widely online as chilling reminders of lives cut short. Additionally, former Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani was listed among the passengers, though his status remains unconfirmed by official sources. As identities surface, each name is adding personal weight to what is already one of India’s most harrowing air disasters.
FCDO has released the following numbers in order to gain information about friends and family : +91 (11) 2419 2100 (in India) and +44 (0) 20 7008 5000 (in the UK)
Additionally, The Government of Gujarat State have established an Emergency Centre that can be contacted on: +91 (0) 79 23251900 / +91 (0) 9078405304.
Air India hotline : 1800 5691 444, for foreign nationals +91 8062779200.
