Live-eventIn The NewsHorrifying pictures of Air India plane crash as emergency services attend scenePhotos are flooding social media of a horrific plane crash in India. A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that was Gatwick Airport-bound dropped out of the sky minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in west India. It is the first-ever crash of the model since its first journey 14 years ago. The signal from the Air India craft was lost at 10.08am local time, less than a minute after taking off. It was supposed to land in London Gatwick at 6.25pm, It is believed that 244 people were onboard when the plane crashed. 169 Indian nationals on the flight, as well as 53 Britons, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals, according to Air India. Locals claim to have heard a 'bang' before seeing a huge fireball with large pummels of smoke at the airport boundary. According to Flightradar, a flight tracking website, the plane's final signal was received just seconds after take-off. Now travellers have been urged to avoid the India-Pakistan border following the plane crash due to previous tensions, however the cause of the crash has not been confirmed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. "In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it." Gatwick Airport said: "We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 6.25pm. More information to follow." India's aviation minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, stated: "We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families." Follow live updates as they come in here Get all the latest and breaking news in Yorkshire by signing up to our newsletter here.Get breaking news in Yorkshire straight to your phone You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
