- LONDON — The British royal family will wear black armbands and observe a
minute's silence during the annual Trooping the Colour parade on Saturday as a
mark of respect for victims of the tragic Air India plane crash in Gujarat's
Ahmedabad, India.
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- At least 169 Indians and 53 British nationals were
travelling in the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, which crashed
on Thursday afternoon soon after take-off from the Ahmedabad airport. This
tragic accident claimed the lives of at least 241 people.
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- The annual parade marks King Charles's birthday with over
1,350 troops involved. According to a palace spokesperson, the King wanted
changes in his birthday parade "as a mark of respect for the lives lost,
the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful
tragedy."
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- Earlier on Thursday, in a statement issued, King Charles
expressed shock over the tragic plane crash.
Read: Ahmedabad plane crash: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has history of technical issues globally
- "My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the
terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning. Our special prayers and deepest
possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by
this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of
their loved ones. I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts
of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most
heartbreaking and traumatic time," read the statement issued.
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- The impact triggered a massive blaze, with thick plumes
of smoke visible across the city. Emergency services, including fire brigades
and National Disaster Response Force teams, rushed to the site of the crash.
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- Several global leaders, including British Prime Minister
Keir Starmer, expressed shock and grief after the Air India flight bound for
London crashed shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, triggering
a massive emergency response.
