LONDON: The Indian community in the UK has been left in deep shock after an Air India airplane bound for London Gatwick crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people burst into flames when it hit buildings in Gujarat state’s largest city shortly after takeoff. Among those on board were 53 British passengers and 169 Indian nationals, many of whom would have been on their way to visit relatives in the UK. The former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he and his wife Akshata Murty were “deeply shocked and distressed” by the tragedy.

Air India says the flight included Indians, British, Portuguese and a Canadian.

Shocking images shared to social media showed a huge trail of smoke emanating from the crash site near the international airport this morning