Air India confirmed on Thursday that its flight had crashed in a “tragic accident”.

“With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad-London-Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today,” Air India chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” he said, adding that an emergency centre has been activated and a support team set up for families seeking information.

Air India said there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian.

The NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Herald our High Commission in New Delhi is responding to the event and is in touch with local authorities.

“We have no reason at this time to believe that any New Zealanders were on the flight.”

Explosion, smoke seen after crash

Ahmedabad, the main city of India’s Gujarat state, is home to around eight million people.

The busy airport is located surrounded by densely-packed residential areas.

Footage posted to X in the aftermath appeared to show the aircraft descending before a large explosion was seen.

Local media report emergency services responding and sirens blaring. Thick clouds of smoke are visible in the area.

BBC reporter Roxy Gagdekar described the scene as “very shocking”.

“Everyone is running right now trying to save as many lives as possible. A rescue operation is going on at the spot very near to the airport,” she said.

“Ambulances are all over the area. Roads are blocked. Emergency response teams are still trying to extinguish a fire.

“Bodies are still being taken from the area. There has been no official confirmation about the crash or the number of casualties,” she added.

Shock and devastation after disaster

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was shocked by the crash and offered his support to those affected.

“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words,” Modi said in a message posted to X.

“In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it,” he said, adding he had “been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected”.

India’s aviation minister said he was “shocked and devastated” at the aircraft crash and his “thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families”.

“I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action,” Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said in a statement.

“Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site,” he added.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called scenes of the disaster “devastating”, adding “my thoughts are with the passengers and their families”.

“The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating. My thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time,” Starmer said in a statement issued by his Downing Street office.

Aviation analyst Alex Macheras told Al Jazeera it was too soon to know if any passengers survived.

“In its 15 years of commercial service globally, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has never been involved in a crash or a whole loss or a fatal accident,” Macheros told the broadcaster.

“This is an aircraft with an impeccable safety record operated by an airline, Air India, that hasn’t had a fatal crash in several decades, around 40 years.”

This is the first instance of a Boeing 787 crashing since the models began operating commercially in 2011, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

Shares in Boeing dropped 7% in Thursday premarket US trading, The Wall Street Journal reported.

History of air crashes

India has suffered a series of fatal air crashes, including a 1996 disaster when two jets collided mid-air over New Delhi, killing nearly 350 people.

In 2010 an Air India Express jet crashed and burst into flames at Mangalore airport in southwest India, killing 158 of the 166 passengers and crew on board.

Decades earlier, an Air India Boeing 747 flying from Montreal to London in June 1985 crashed into the sea off Ireland with 329 people on board and leaving no survivors.

An Indian commission determined that militant Sikhs had planted a bomb in baggage being carried by the plane.

– additional reporting AFP