More now about the British national who is reported to have survived the plane crash.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh has "no idea" how he escaped the plane, his relatives say.

Speaking outside his family home in Leicester, Vishwashkumar's brother Nayankumar, 27, says: "We were just shocked as soon as we heard it".

He says that Vishwashkumar told him after the crash: "I have no idea how I exited the plane."

A relative called Jay says Vishwashkumar has spoken to his father asking about his brother Ajay, who is believed to have also been on the plane.

Vishwashkumar "got some injuries on his face. He was pretty much covered in blood - that's what his dad said", Jay adds.

Media caption,

'I'm happy about one brother but sad about the other', says sibling of British survivor

  • People light candles for victims of crashpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 12 June

    We're seeing images showing people taking part in prayer ceremonies in the cities of Patna and Siliguri.

    They are lighting candles for the victims of today's crash in Ahmedabad.

    Hundreds of people stand with candles in their handsImage source, Getty Images
    A group of people light candlesImage source, Getty Images
  • Video shows man reported to be British survivor walking away after crashpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 12 June
    Breaking

    We can now bring you footage of British man, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, seemingly walking away from the crash site in Ahmedabad.

    As a reminder, Ramesh earlier spoke to reporters from his hospital bed, and showed them his boarding - while the BBC spoke to a relative of his in Leicester.

    Media caption,

    Video shows man reported to be British survivor walking away after India plane crash

  • 'One of the worst crashes in aviation history' - Trumppublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 12 June

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from the White House

    Speaking at the White House, US President Trump said he has offered "anything we can do" to Indian authorities after the "horrific crash".

    "Nobody had any idea what happened," he said. "It looks like it was flying just fine."

    President Trump also said he believed it was "one of the most worst crashes in aviation history".

    Trump was speaking at an event in the East Room of the White House to bar California from implementing the state's electric vehicle mandate.

  • Air India check-in desks remain empty at Gatwick Airportpublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 12 June

    Alex Boyd
    Reporting from Gatwick Airport

    Empty Air India desks at Gatwick Airport, a worker in orange hi-vi vest working to the side behind a plastic orange barrierImage source, EPA

    It's a strange atmosphere at Gatwick this afternoon.

    Throughout the day I've seen hundreds of groups, couples and families travel through the airport as usual.

    Many are unaware of what's happened until they see the crowd of world media gathered outside the departures area.

    As we head towards when the Ahmedabad flight was due to land, the Air India check in desks in the South Terminal remain empty aside from some airport staff.

    Gatwick says it's set up a reception centre for the families of those affected.

    And another of the airline's flights - scheduled to leave for Goa later tonight - has been cancelled.

    As we've been reporting, the airline began running routes from the West Sussex airport in March 2023. There are currently 12 departures per week, five of which go to Ahmedabad.

  • Names of British engers on board emergingpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 12 June

    We're starting to get names of the British engers who were on board the Air India flight.

    The BBC can confirm Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter, who lived in Gloucester, were on board the flight.

    A statement from the Gloucester Muslim Society, which names the three victims, says: "Today, we are profoundly heartbroken by the devastating loss of life in the catastrophic crash of Flight AI171, traveling from Ahmedabad to London."

  • BBC speaks to relative of British man who reportedly survived crashpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 12 June
    Breaking

    Navtej Johal and Katie Thompson
    Reporting from Leicester

    Media caption,

    Air India crash: Cousin of British survivor speaks to BBC

    Earlier, we brought you reports of a British survivor of the plane crash.

    We’ve now spoken to Vishwashkumar Ramesh’s relative, Ajay Valgi, in Leicester.

    He says Vishwash called his family earlier to say he’s "fine".

    Vishwash said he doesn’t know the whereabouts of his brother, Ajay, who was also on board the plane.

    Their relatives have gathered at the family home in Leicester in and mourning. They’re awaiting more information.

    Vishwash has a wife and child. The BBC understands that he was born in India, but has lived in the UK for many years.

    Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.Image source, Hindustan Times
  • More pictures from the scenepublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 12 June

    We're seeing some images from the scene of the crash. Part of the plane can be seen protruding out of the building and a large piece of debris smouldering on the roof.

    Plane sticking out of building,Image source, Reuters
    Plane sticking out of a building.Image source, Reuters
    Tail fin of plane on the ground, debris strewn around as people stand nearby.Image source, EPA

    BBC's Visual Journalism team has taken a look at what parts of the plane are visible in published images.

    Graphic shows part of a plane - tail, landing gear, tail fin, part of left wing.
  • Watch: Our reporter sees plane's wing at crash sitepublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 12 June

    BBC correspondent Roxy Gagdekar is at the site of the wreckage in Ahmedabad, where a wing from the crashed plane can be seen on the ground among the burnt trees.

    Authorities have brought in heavy machinery in the hope of finding survivors, he says.

  • UK's Gujarati community likely to be hit hard by this tragedypublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 12 June

    Sima Kotecha
    Senior UK correspondent

    I've been speaking to people connected to those who were on board the flight.

    The news - understandably – hasn't sunk in for several of their loved ones.

    One man sobbed down the phone as he told me how his cousin had been coming to London for a celebration.

    Another explained how the vivid images on television were causing them more heartbreak as they tried to find out what exactly went wrong with the flight.

    These engers were coming back from the state of Gujarat.

    Hundreds of thousands of people with South Asian roots are of Gujarati heritage in the UK.

    The tragedy is likely to hit the community hard as it waits for more details to unfold.

  • Former Gujarat chief minister killed in crashpublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 12 June
    Breaking

    Vijay Rupani. Photo: December 2024Image source, Hindustan Times via Getty Images

    Gujarat's former chief minister, Vijay Rupani, has been killed in the plane crash, India's civil aviation minister has told reporters.

    Rupani, 68, served as the chief minister of the western Indian state in 2016-21.

    He was a member of the governing BJP party.

  • What we know so farpublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 12 June

    It's now after 20:30 in Ahmedabad (16:00 BST). Here is the latest:

    • An Air India plane crashed in a residential area near Ahmedabad airport earlier today, just moments after taking off
    • The plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people
    • Some 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site so far, according to Ahmedabad police, but it's unclear if all were on the plane
    • The local police chief told Indian media there was one survivor. It is being reported that he is a British national named Vishwashkumar Ramesh
    • At least 50 medical students are in hospital after the plane crashed into a doctors' hostel, officials have said
    • Tata Group, which owns Air India, has said it would give one crore rupees - the equivalent of around £86,000 - to the families of each person who was killed in the crash

      We'll continue to bring you the latest developments as we get them - so stick with us.

    • Leicester residents believed to have been on crashed plane - British MPpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 12 June

      The MP for Leicester East has said she understands "a handful of Leicester residents" were on board the crashed plane.

      Shivani Raja tells the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan that her community, which has a high population of British-Gujaratis, is "really horrified and devastated waking up to such tragic news".

      "So far my understanding is that there are a handful of Leicester residents who were on board that flight - but I am still awaiting for official reports on that," the Conservative MP says.

    • Air India organising relief flights for familiespublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 12 June

      Air India says it is organising two relief flights to Ahmedabad for families of the engers involved in the plane crash and airline staff.

      The airline is sending return flights from Delhi and Mumbai that will arrive at 23:00 local time (18:30 BST) and depart shortly after 01:00 local time on Friday (20:30 BST on Thursday) .

      In a statement on X, the airline says: "Next of kin of engers and staff in Delhi and Mumbai wanting to travel on these flights can call our hotline on 1800 5691 444. Additionally, those coming in from international destinations and wanting to travel can call our hotline on +91 8062779200."

    • Gatwick sets up reception centre for relatives of crash victimspublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 12 June

      Rajini Vaidyanathan
      Reporting from London's Gatwick airport

      As we reach Gatwick, an eerie juxtaposition.

      Families - young, and old - arrive for their summer holidays with suitcases, neck pillows, and summer hats. Many are oblivious to the tragedy that's unfolded miles away at another airport.

      As the media gather, airport officials say a reception centre has been set up for families of those who were on board the Air India flight which was due to land here at 18:25 BST.

      I have spoken to British Gujaratis who have taken this flight many times – this was a popular route getting them direct from London to Gujarat.

      One British Gujarati told me this was the worst tragedy to hit his community since the Bhuj earthquake back in 2001.

      Empty Air India check-in desks at Gatwick airport. Photo: 12 June 2025Image source, EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
      Image caption,

      Empty Air India check-in desks at Gatwick airport

    • Reports of British survivor from Air India plane crashpublished at 15:29 British Summer Time 12 June
      Breaking

      Vishwash Kumar Ramesh in hospital bed.Image source, Hindustan Times

      We're getting reports of a British survivor from the plane crash.

      Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik tells news agency ANI there is one survivor, who is in seat 11A on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flight.

      Speaking to ANI, Malik says the survivor "has been in the hospital and is under treatment".

      The flight manifest shared earlier by authorities lists the enger in seat 11A as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national.

      Indian media say they've spoken to Vishwash in hospital. He shared his boarding which showed his name and and seat number.

      They reported him saying: "Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly."

      We're chasing more details, and will bring them to you as we get them.

    • US investigators also heading to Indiapublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 12 June

      We're also hearing that US investigators will be travelling to India, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) saying it will assist with the crash investigation.

      In a post on X, the NTSB says it will be "leading" the US team, adding that the Indian government will be providing "all information" in accordance with international protocols of the International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN agency.

      The plane that crashed shortly after take-off at India's Ahmedabad airport was a US-manufactured Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

    • UK officials deployed to Indiapublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 12 June

      UK officials are being deployed to India to the investigation into the Ahmedabad plane crash.

      The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) says it has "formally offered its assistance" to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau in India.

      It adds that the UK AAIB will have expert status in the Indian investigation because UK citizens were on board the plane.

      "We are deploying a multidisciplinary investigation team to India to the Indian-led investigation. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic accident."

    • A difficult day for all of us - Air India chief executivepublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 12 June

      The chief executive of Air India, Campbell Wilson, expresses "deep sorrow" following the London-bound plane crash.

      In a video statement posted on X, he says: "I would like to express our deep sorrow about this event.

      Quote Message

      This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our engers, crew , their families and loved ones."

    • Tata Group to compensate crash victims' familiespublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 12 June

      Tata Group, which owns Air India, says it will give 1 crore rupees – the equivalent of around £86,000 – to the families of each person who was killed in the crash.

      It will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and provide for rebuilding the medical hostel that was hit.

      "No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment," it says in a statement posted on X, external.