Traumatic scenes have played out across the Indian city of Ahmedabad as families of those on flight AI171 arrived at hospitals desperate for information about their loved ones.
Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
The flight was moments into its journey to London when it sent a mayday call to local aviation authorities early on Thursday afternoon (local time).
After climbing to an altitude of 190 metres it soon crashed into a residential area, erupting into a ball of flames and smoke.
Of the 242 passengers and crew aboard the plane, all but one died, the airline confirmed.
Among those on board were young families, tourists and a former politician. Air India said the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese and a Canadian.
One passenger who was seated near an emergency exit managed to jump out and survived the disaster.
Air India is flying families of those who were on board to Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, to be close by as investigators piece together shreds of evidence as to what caused the pilots of the plane to issue a mayday call.
Crowds of people have already gathered at hospitals across the city, trying to get information about those on board.
The atmosphere is chaotic as hundreds of people, officials, medical professionals and members of the press respond to the worst aviation disaster the world has seen in more than a decade.
Victims to be identified via DNA testing
Officials have said no stone will be left unturned in the investigation and at least 1,000 DNA tests will be done in the process to identify those lost.
Raunak Singh Rajput, an eyewitness and social worker in Ahmedabad, told the ABC that some of the dead were "utterly unrecognisable".
He rushed to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to help out as soon as he heard the news.
"The bodies started to come in, so many bodies," he said.
"Some didn't have feet or hands. They were just completely burnt. There was nothing left.
"I feel awful. I haven't experienced something so devastating in my life."
An emotionally distraught woman outside the DNA collection centre told the ABC her father was on the plane.
"He was going to London on a vacation," she said through tears.
"He was going to visit my brothers. My brothers are [now] on their way here on a plane."
She said she had given her blood for DNA samples, but had been told it may take three days to get the results.
"Til then, I will wait right here."
Victims of the crash
The former chief minister of Gujarat has been confirmed as one of the passengers on the flight.
Vijay Rupani, 68, was a longtime member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party and led the state from 2016 to 2021.
His friend Dhirendra Kanabar said he was shocked.
"It's very, very sad news. Very tragic accident and we are really saddened," he told the UK's ITV News.
He said the Ahmebadad to Gatwick route was well-travelled by the large Gujarati population living in Leicester and its surrounds.
"It is very convenient for us," he said.
"It's a direct flight."
He said the crash would have a huge impact on the community, and prayer services at the local temple would likely take place over the weekend.
British celebrity wellness guru Jamie Meek and his husband Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek were also aboard.
They had been in India for ten days on a wellness retreat.
The couple posted a lighthearted video from the airport reflecting on their trip before boarding.
"Just boarding, goodbye India," Fiongal said.
"10 hour flight back to England," Jamie said.
"My biggest takeaway is don't lose your patience with your partner," Fiongal said, laughing.
"You're already starting to," Jamie quipped back in reply.
"You've already snapped at me while having chai at the airport. I see you've learned nothing."
Fiongal cackled in reply.
"Going back happily, happily, happily calm," he said.
Jamie's brother Nick told The Times their family was expecting Jamie to arrive at his mum's house late last night to pick up his dog.
"She is not in a good way. It is all very raw for her at the moment. It's a lot to take in," he said.
Komi Vyas, her husband Prateek Joshi and their three children were also on board.
The family was set to finally live together in London, after years separated while Mr Joshi worked in the UK and Dr Vyas and their children remained in India.
A spokesperson from Udaipur's Pacific Hospital said Dr Vyas had quit her job recently to join her husband in London.
The family snapped a selfie of the five of them smiling on the plane before take-off, which was reportedly sent to relatives.
British couple Hannaa Vorajee and her husband Akeel Nanabawa and their four-year-old daughter Sara also died in the crash.
The Gloucester Muslim Community said "our hearts are heavy".
"During this moment of overwhelming sorrow, our hearts go out to all those left behind," a post on Facebook said.
"No words can truly ease the pain of such a profound loss, but we pray that the family may find solace in the tremendous outpouring of compassion and solidarity from communities around the world."
The flight's crew, including Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, also died in the crash.
Captain Sabharwal had about 8,200 hours of flying experience and First Officer Kundar had about 1,100 hours of flying experience, according to India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
British man the only known survivor
British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh is the only known survivor from the flight.
The 40-year-old, who grew up in India before moving to the UK, was travelling back home with his brother Ajay, who did not survive the crash.
Mr Ramesh, who is now being treated in hospital, told India's Hindustan Times that he heard a loud noise 30 seconds after take-off.
"Then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly," he said.
Another brother, Nayan, told the BBC from outside the family's Leicester home that Vishwash called the family and told them he doesn't know how he escaped.
"He himself has no idea how he survived, how he got out of the plane," he said.
Friend Rakesh Rama told UK newspaper The Times that the brothers were "always together".
They grew up on Diu, an island off Gujarat's southern coast, alongside Mr Rama.
Later, they all coincidentally moved to the same street in the British city of Leicester.
"There's good news that [Viswash] is alive, but we all feel desperately sad about Ajay," Mr Rama told The Times.
"The family are very loving, you can just tell from how many people are here [at the house]."
