Air India plane crash: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif offers condolences

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences following the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

The Boeing Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on its way to London Gatwick.

“Saddened by the tragic crash of Air India flight near Ahmedabad today. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims grieving this immense loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy,” he said on X.

Ahmedabad police have recovered as many as 204 bodies from the crash site.

Air India Flight 171 departed Ahmedabad around 1:40 pm (0810 GMT), bound for London Gatwick, but crashed shortly after takeoff into a doctors’ hostel near the airport. The flight carried 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian, along with 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew.