An aeroplane carrying over 200 passengers crashes shortly after takeoff as the footage shows plumes of smoke

An Air India plane has been crashed at the airport in India’s western city of Ahmedabad, according to the television channels on Thursday.

The report from an aviation source told Reuters that the plane was travelling to Birmingham, England when the accident happened.

The crash occurred when the aircraft was taking off, the TV channels reported. Visuals showed debris on fire, with thick black smoke rising into the sky near the airport.

Visuals on local television channels showed smoke billowing from the crash site near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city with a population of more than 5 million.

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told The Associated Press that Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time.

There were 232 passengers and 12 crew members onboard the flight, which had been bound for London

Gatwick Airport, Kidwai said.

Gatwick posted on X that it could confirm the flight, which had been due to arrive at 6:25 p.m. in London, had crashed on departure.