More than 200 killed in plane crash in India, only one confirmed survivor

An Air India plane crashed Thursday at Ahmedabad Airport in northwest India while en route to Gatwick, London. The aircraft was carrying 242 people.

"There appears to be no survivors in the crash," city police commissioner GS Malik told AFP. "And since the airplane has fallen on an area which was residential and had some offices, there are more casualties as well."

Malik later reported that 204 bodies had been recovered, including victims from both the plane and the buildings it struck. He added that more than 40 people are currently receiving medical treatment and noted that “rescue efforts are ongoing.”

As the day progressed, search and rescue efforts resulted in confirmation that there was one survivor among those on the plane. He is receiving medical attention.

The airline's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, described what happened as a "tragic accident." "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event," he said. He also stated that a support team had been set up to provide information to the families of those affected.

Air India also said in a statement that the injured were being transported to nearby hospitals. It also detailed that 169 passengers were Indian, 53 English, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. Indian authorities also said that the aircraft was traveling with two pilots and 10 crew members.

According to the specialized site Flightradar24, the aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Its signal was lost shortly after takeoff. Identified as flight AI171, the journey was expected to last about nine hours.

Indian authorities reported that the aircraft had sent out a distress signal.

"We are on highest alert"

"Rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site," Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said. "We are on highest alert," he added, assuring that he is “personally monitoring the situation."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the images as "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," he said.