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A devastating plane crash in India has claimed the lives of more than 200 people, with just one so far. The Gatwick-bound came down from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat, crashing into the at around 1.40pm local time.

On board were 242 passengers, including 53 Brits. . Among those believed to have perished are a family of three, a wellness influencer couple, and an award-winning hotel manager who had travelled to India with his wife and two children. Akeel Nanawaba, 36, his partner Hanna Vorajee, 30, and their four-year-old daughter, Sarah were returning home from a five-day family celebration.

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Akeel and Hanna ran a successful global recruitment business with offices in Gloucester and Ahmedabad. Their friend and business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori said: “I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people.”

Struggling to speak about young Sarah, he added: “They were here to celebrate a family festival and to spend some time with Akeel’s father. Akeel was a really good man, I’m in shock.”

Another British family on board were hotel manager Javed Ali Syed, his wife Mariam, and their children Amani, four, and Zayn. Mr Syed had earned recognition in his field, winning a Team Member of the Year award at the Comfort Inn London in Westminster in 2017. Most recently, he worked at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel.

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Also feared dead are Raxa Modha, 55, her two-year-old grandson Rudra, and daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar. Mrs Modha had spent several months in India caring for her terminally ill husband Kishor, who had wished to spend his final days in his homeland. The family, originally from Northamptonshire, were flying back to the UK following his recent death.

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A family friend said: “It’s incredibly sad, the whole family is already grieving Kishor’s death.”

Wellness influencers Fiongal and husband Jamie Greenlaw-Meek were confirmed to be on the flight by friends via social media. Meek, 45, and Greenlaw, 39, based in London, co-founded the Wellness Foundry, a company promoting holistic living.

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The couple had been on a holiday in India and had previously made appearances on ’s This Morning to showcase their wellness brand - and posted a video from Ahmedabad airport just moments before boarding the ill-fated plane.

The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was seated in 11A. He has lived in London for 20 years and was travelling with his brother Ajay, who is still unaccounted for.

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Air India said 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.

Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, said it would provide 10 million rupees (around £86,000) to the families of those who were killed in the crash.

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The company said it would also cover the medical costs of those injured and provide support in the “building up” of the medical college the plane crashed into.

UK officials are being deployed to India to support the investigation, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said.

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said he was “desperately shocked” and said he was being kept updated on the developing situation. Prime Minister Sir said the UK was in constant contact with Indian authorities.

He said: “I think it is important for all friends and family to contact the foreign office so we can roll out this as quickly as possible, but it is an ongoing investigation. It’ll take some time.

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“But you know, our hearts and our thoughts are absolutely with the friends and families of all those affected who are going to be absolutely devastated by this awful news.”

Divyansh Singh, vice president of the Federation of All India Medical Association, told the Associated Press that at least five medical students had been killed and about 50 were injured after the plane hit the college.

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Campbell Wilson, the chief executive of Air India, expressed his “deep sorrow”, adding: “This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has stood up a crisis team in India. Gatwick said a reception centre was being set up for relatives of passengers on board the Air India flight.

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