Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash Live Updates: Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge visits Ahmedabad Civil Hospital

An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, killing 265 people.

The aircraft, bound for London, plunged into the Meghani area of the city, sending up a massive plume of black smoke and triggering an immediate emergency response. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), there were 242 people on board the aircraft — 230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 cabin crew members.

The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal, with first officer Clive Kundar. The flight was heavily fueled for the long-haul journey, adding to the intensity of the explosion and fire that followed the crash.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the devastating Air India plane crash site in Ahmedabad, where 241 people lost their lives in one of country's worst aviation disasters. The Prime Minister, accompanied by Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, also met with the sole survivor at the civil hospital.

"Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The scene of devastation is saddening. Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy," PM Modi said in a post on X.

Two years after a bloody conflict between Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur left over 250 dead and scores displaced, Manipur on Thursday were praying for Lamnunthiem Singson, a Kuki Zo and Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailakpam, a Meitei girl, both part of the 10-member cabin crew on board the ill-fated Air India flight.

Hoping against all odds for some positive news, families of the relatives of two girls from Manipur said with no official communication coming, all they can do was remain glued to television sets. The families have tried calling phone numbers, but the countless attempts have been futile and in a desparate attempt have sent their members staying in Delhi to Ahmedabad.

Seat 11A saved Viswashkumar Ramesh. His brother Ajaykumar Ramesh sat across the aisles in 11J. Within 30 seconds, fate split them forever aboard AI Flight 171.The London-bound flight crashed shortly after takeoff Thursday afternoon. British citizen Viswashkumar staggered out of the wreckage — the only confirmed survivor — and is now recovering in bed 11 of ward B7 at Ahmedabad civil hospital. His brother Ajaykumar is feared dead.