Pope Leo XIV has expressed his closeness to victims’ families after an Air India flight headed to London crashed shortly after takeoff in the western city of Ahmedabad, killing 241 passengers. Source: OSV News.
In a telegram published overnight, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the Pope was “deeply saddened” by the tragic accident and commended the “souls of the deceased to the mercy of the Almighty”.
Pope Leo “sends his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives, together with the assurance of prayers for all involved in the recovery efforts,” Cardinal Parolin wrote.
A video on social media shows the plane flying at low altitude after taking off yesterday before descending out of view, followed by an explosion and large plumes of smoke rising in the sky.
Air India confirmed that 242 passengers and crew members were aboard the flight. Of these, it said, “169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals.”
Authorities confirmed that only one passenger survived the crash – British man Vishwashkumar Ramesh, who is now being treated in hospital, BBC reports.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster also expressed his condolences to families in the United Kingdom and India.
“I pray for all of the victims of this morning’s tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad, as well as their families and loved ones who will come from across the UK and India,” Cardinal Nichols said. “I commend also the response of the local emergency services and all who are providing support to those affected.”
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, G.S. Malik, told The Associated Press that since the plane crashed “in a residential area which also had offices, some locals would have also died.”
“Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained,” he told AP.
FULL STORY
Pope ‘deeply saddened’ by tragic Air India plane crash (By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News)
British man is only passenger to survive India plane crash (By André Rhoden-Paul, BBC News)
