UK AAIB dispatches team to crash site

LONDON - A London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 crashed right after take-off in the Indian city of Ahmedabad killing 241 of 242 people on board. The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has offered its assistance in the investigation. In addition, the UK AAIB will have expert status in the Indian safety investigation.

Air India flight 171, Ahmedabad to London-Gatwick, crashed into a residential building Thursday. According to Air India, all but one of the 242 people on board perished. The passenger manifest listed 53 Britons among the travellers.

The AAIB will support the investigation of the first ever hull-loss of a 787. "We are deploying a multidisciplinary investigation team to India to support the Indian led investigation," the AAIB said. "Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic accident."

In addition, the UK AAIB will have "expert status" in the Indian safety investigation. "This is in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 because UK citizens were on board the aircraft," the AAIB said.