An Air India flight bound for London Gatwick, carrying 53 British nationals, has crashed in India’s western city of Ahmedabad.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner came down shortly after take-off into a residential area, leading to a massive explosion.

A partially intact plane was seen sticking out from a building, with thick black smoke rising over the city as people were pulled from the wreckage and taken away in ambulances.

Firefighters doused the smoking wreckage, which would have been fully loaded with fuel shortly after take-off, and an adjacent multi-story building with water. Charred bodies lay on the ground.

Police are yet to specify whether there were any casualties, but confirmed the aircraft crashed into a hostel for doctors.