An Air India aircraft en route to London’s Gatwick Airport has crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, the airline confirmed on X.

The flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew members, lost contact with air traffic control just moments after departure at 10:08 a.m. local time, barely a minute after its scheduled take-off at 09:50.

Eyewitnesses near the airport reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by flames and thick black smoke billowing from the crash site.

Images and videos circulating online show burning debris scattered near the airport perimeter.

Flight tracking service #FlightRadar24 on X confirmed that the aircraft lost signal at an altitude of just 625 feet, indicating the crash occurred moments into ascent.

Air India acknowledged the incident but has yet to release any information regarding casualties or survivors.

Source: X | flightradar24, airindia, aaraynsh, PicturesFoIder