India, June 12 -- An Air India aircraft with 242 passengers onboard crashed near the Meghaninagar area in Gujarat's Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon. More than 100 people are feared dead.

Air India said that the flight - AI171 - was heading to London's Gatwick from Ahmedabad and was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Follow LIVE updates.

The aircraft departed from Ahmedabad airport at 1:39pm from runway 23 and moments later, gave a MAYDAY call to the air traffic controllers, as reported by Hindustan Times.

According to officials, the aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar.

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had 8,200 hours of flying experience. ...