In a catastrophic event that has shaken India, Air India Flight 171 bound for Gatwick has gone down just after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat, plummeting into the heavily populated Meghani locality at about 1.40 pm local time, leaving over 200 people feared dead with only one survivor reported thus far.

The ill-fated aircraft carried 242 individuals, among them 53 Britons, and now it is dreaded that nearly all have lost their lives. Heartbreakingly, on the list of those believed to have perished, there’s a three-member family, a couple renowned for their health and wellness influence, as well as an acclaimed hotelier who was journeying with his wife and their two young ones.

One family particularly mourned is that of Akeel Nanawaba, aged 36, Hanna Vorajee, 30, and their four year old daughter Sarah, who were flying back from a grand five-day family festivity.

Akeel, alongside his partner Hanna, had etched their names as shrewd business-persons, operating a thriving global recruitment company with bases in Gloucester and Ahmedabad. Left shattered by the news, their associate and 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."

Nagori's voice wavered while remembering young Sarah, saying, "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.", reports the Mirror.

Tragedy has struck multiple British families aboard the doomed flight, including highly-regarded hotel manager Javed Ali Syed, alongside his wife Mariam and their young children, Amani and Zayn. Winning accolades for his hospitality expertise, Syed's notable achievement includes a Team Member of the Year award at the Comfort Inn London in Westminster in 2017, most recently serving at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel.

Moreover, Raxa Modha, aged 55, her grandson Rudra, who was just two, and daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar are feared to have perished. The family, hailing from Northamptonshire and reeling from the poignant loss of Mrs Modha's husband Kishor in India, were embarking on their return journey to the UK.

A distraught family friend lamented: "It's incredibly sad, the whole family is already grieving Kishor's death."

Amongst the missing are noted wellness influencers Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, founders of the Wellness Foundry, known for their holistic lifestyle advocacy. After enjoying an Indian holiday, they were confirmed by friends as passengers via social media, having been featured on ITV's This Morning and sharing a poignant video from Ahmedabad airport before the fatal accident.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, with two decades of life in London and sitting in seat 11A, miraculously survived, while his brother Ajay's fate remains uncertain.

Air India confirmed 169 Indian, 53 British, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals were aboard the crashed aircraft. Following the tragic accident, Tata Group announced a compensation of 10 million rupees to each victim's family.

The company has also pledged to cover medical expenses for the injured and support the rebuilding efforts of the impacted medical college. The AAIB stated that UK experts are set to assist with the investigation in India.

King Charles expressed his "desperately shocked" reaction to the crash, while Buckingham Palace ensured he remains informed on the situation. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasised the necessity of continuous contact between the UK and India during these trying times.

He urged: "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."

He continued: "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 from the Federation of All India Medical Association told the Associated Press about the tragic toll on the students, confirming at least five fatalities and approximately 50 injuries after the plane struck the college.

Campbell Wilson, Air India's chief executive, offered his "deep sorrow" and said: "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 has activated its crisis team in India, whilst Gatwick Airport confirmed that it is establishing a reception centre to support relatives of those onboard the ill-fated Air India flight.