India, July 14 -- A pilot waved to children moments before the light aircraft he was flying crashed into the ground in a fiery explosion shortly after takeoff at Southend Airport. Witnesses described a heartwarming gesture that quickly turned to tragedy, as the plane inverted and slammed into the ground just seconds after becoming airborne.

John Johnson, who was at the airport with his wife and children, recalled the chilling final moment before the crash.

"We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us," he said. "Then the aircraft powered up, rolled down the runway, and took off. But just a few seconds later, it banked hard to the left, inverted, and went straight down. It crashed headfirst. There was a huge fireball."

The...