London, June 12 -- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday called the crash of a London-bound Air India flight in Ahmedabad "devastating," after 242 people, including 53 British nationals, were killed when the aircraft went down shortly after takeoff.

In a statement from Downing Street, Starmer said, "The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating. My thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time."

Flight crashes moments after takeoff

The tragedy unfolded just after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, went down in the Megha...