King Charles calls Air India plane crash that killed 242 people 'desperately shocking'

The King has said he is "desperately shocked" as it's reported a total of 242 individuals were on the plane, which includes two pilots and 10 crew members
King Charles has expressed his profound distress following the Air India plane crash that occurred earlier today.
The monarch relayed that he was "desperately shocked" by the devastating event, which unfolded when Air India flight AI171 met with disaster shortly after departing from Ahmedabad airport.
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This sombre news arrives amid reports that the aircraft held 242 individuals — including 53 UK nationals — at the time its unfortunate journey to London-Gatwick ended in tragedy.
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King Charles declared: "My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning.
"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.", reported Birmingham Live.
"I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time."
In the wake of the catastrophe, over 100 bodies have been transported to medical facilities after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a residential area. The plane hit BJ Medical College in Meghani Nagar at a time when many student doctors were reportedly eating their lunch in the dining room.
Reports indicate that the ill-fated aircraft embarked on its journey at 1.39pm local time — originally scheduled to land at Gatwick at 6.25pm BST. However, soon after takeoff, it collided with the doctors' hostel, disclosed Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director-general of civil aviation, to AP.
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Emergency services rushed to the scene following the tragic incident where at least two dozen ambulances reportedly attended. It's been revealed that from the 242 individuals travelling on board, 11 were children.
The airline involved provided specifics about those who were on the ill-fated flight in an announcement: "Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off."
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According to Air India's statement: "The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals."
Efforts to care for the wounded are ongoing, with those affected being transported to nearby hospitals. For further information, Air India has established a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444.
In its cooperation with investigators delving into the cause of the crash, Air India pledged: "Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident. Air India will release further information via regular updates on its X handle (https://x.com/airindia) and on http://airindia.com."
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Sadly, the latest reports reveal a very bleak outcome, as highlighted by a local police chief's comments to The Associated Press. Commissioner GS Malik stated: "It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash," and he noted the potential for additional loss as the aircraft came down within a densely populated area comprising of residential and office spaces: "some locals would have also died."
He concluded by indicating that accurate casualty figures are still being confirmed: "Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained."
After a halt in flights due to the incident — Ahmedabad Airport announced on X that it has resumed service with "limited flight operations."
The airport stated: "Ahmedabad Airport is now operational with limited flight operations."
They also announced: "Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight schedules. Stay tuned to our official channels for real-time updates."

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