A plane to London crashed with 242 people on board – Liberation
The Air India Air AI171 flight to London (Gatwick), in the United Kingdom, crashed this Thursday, June 12, near the airport in the city of Ahmedabad, in the west of India. The crash took place in the wake of takeoff, around 1:39 p.m. local time (10:09 am in Paris), and the plane ended its race a building that hosts doctors. No assessment has yet been advanced by the Indian authorities who have simply specified that 242 people were on board. Among them were at least 169 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian. But also two pilots and ten members of the cabin crew.
The Indian aviation regulator clarified that the device, a Boeing 787-8 (Dreamliner), won just after taking off, outside the perimeter of the airport. It is one of the most modern aircraft today in service. Thick black smoke rose above the city’s airport in the minutes that followed, according to several journalists on site. Videos also show people being evacuated on stretchers by help. According to the Minister of Indian Health, « Many people » are dead.
“Ahmedabad’s tragedy has stunned and saddened. It breaks our hearts beyond words ”, reacted the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on xwhile sending his « Thoughts of all those who have been affected ». The Indian Minister of Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said he « Shocked and overwhelmed » And said his « Thoughts and prayers go to all people on board and their families ». « The emergency services are mobilized, and all the efforts are made so that the medical teams (…) are quickly sent to the site »he added in a statement.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom said he said « Deeply saddened by the news of a devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad, India » and assured « Work with the Indian authorities to establish the facts urgently and provide support ». THE Prime Minister, Keir Starmeralso ensures being « Taken informed of the evolution of the situation ».
“Our thoughts and sincere condolences go to families and relatives of all the people affected by this devastating eventhas written on X the chairman of the board of directors of Tata Group, majority shareholder of Air India. Our priority is to support all people affected and their families. We do everything to support emergency intervention teams on site. (…) Other updates will be communicated as soon as we receive more precise information. An emergency center has been activated. «
THE Last plane crash in the country dates back to 2010when an airplane from the Air India company from Dubai crashed into the landing in Mangalore, in southern India. 158 passengers had been killed and eight people had managed to get out of the rubble.
In 1996, the flight 763 of the Saudi Arabian Airlines collided in full flight near New Delhi with the 1907 flight from Kazakhstan Airlines. The 349 people on the two planes had been killed, making this event the deadliest air collision in history.
Update at 1:35 p.m. with more reactions.
