AHMEDABAD, India — An Air India passenger flight carrying 244 people crashed into a residential neighborhood in Ahmedabad on Thursday, with authorities saying no survivors are expected.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171 to London Gatwick, went down just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. local time. The aircraft crashed into the Meghani Nagar area, a densely populated district with homes and offices.

Ahmedabad’s police commissioner, G.S. Malik, said in a statement to the Associated Press that "it appears there are no survivors in the plane crash," and added that casualties among local residents are also likely.

Television footage showed heavy smoke billowing from the crash site, as emergency crews fought flames and attempted rescue operations amid the wreckage and nearby buildings. Charred bodies were seen on the ground near the debris.

Air India confirmed that 242 passengers and crew were aboard, including 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian national. Indian civil aviation officials reported the number as 244, a discrepancy yet to be reconciled.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the scenes were "devastating," while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident "heartbreaking beyond words." Modi offered prayers for those affected, noting the tragedy struck in his home state of Gujarat.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8, marking what is believed to be the first crash of a Boeing 787 model since its introduction in 2009. More than 1,000 Dreamliners have been delivered globally.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said all efforts were underway to provide medical assistance and relief at the crash site.

Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran announced the formation of an emergency support center for the families of victims, stating: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”

British lawmakers also expressed condolences. Cabinet minister Lucy Powell told Parliament that the government would provide full support to affected families both in the UK and India.

This is the worst air disaster in India since the 2020 Air India Express crash in Kozhikode, which killed 21 people.

The country’s deadliest aviation disaster occurred in 1996 when a mid-air collision over Haryana killed 349 people.

The crash comes days before the Paris Air Show, raising fresh scrutiny of Boeing, which is still recovering from past 737 Max disasters. Shares of Boeing Co. fell nearly 9% in pre-market trading following the news.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, and officials have yet to determine the reason for the aircraft’s failure shortly after takeoff. — Agencies