Devastating, tragic: Putin, Starmer, other world leaders on Air India plane crash

After an Air India flight en route to London crashed five minutes after taking off from the Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday afternoon, several world leaders and representatives of countries expressed shock over the unfortunate incident that cost many people their lives.

At least 230 passengers and 12 crew members were on board the plane at the time of the crash.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were among the first world leaders to express sadness and offer condolences to the Indian leadership after the tragic crash.

Putin conveyed a condoling message to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the incident "tragic".

"Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the tragic consequences of the plane crash at the Ahmedabad airport," an official statement read.

He expressed sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured in the accident.

Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov expressed sympathy to the affected people and the government.

"My heartfelt sympathy to the families and near ones of the victims and to all Indian people and the Government of India over this tragic major catastrophe," Alipov said in a post on X.

Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, reacted to the incident, calling the scenes from Ahmedabad "devastating".

"The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating. I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time," Starmer wrote on X (formerly Twitter).