British Royal Family to wear black armbands in tribute to Ahmedabad Air India crash victims
London: In a solemn gesture of solidarity, the British royal family will wear black armbands and observe a minute's silence during the annual Trooping the Colour parade on Saturday, honouring the memory of those who perished in the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon. The disaster claimed at least 241 lives, including 169 Indians and 53 British nationals, sparking global mourning.
According to a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace, King Charles has directed changes to his birthday parade “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning, and all communities affected by this awful tragedy.”
Issuing a heartfelt statement, King Charles said, “My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad. Our special prayers and deepest sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations.”
He also praised the "heroic efforts" of emergency responders who rushed to the scene amid massive plumes of smoke and intense fire. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local fire brigades worked through the wreckage.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also expressed deep sorrow, posting on X: “Today is a truly heartbreaking day for many British and Indian families. I want to extend my heartfelt sympathies to all those impacted by the horrific plane crash.”
In the aftermath, both the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have offered support in the probe, which is being led by Indian aviation authorities.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to visit India in next few months: Gor
New Delhi (PTI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India in the next few months, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said on Friday.
The envoy also said that the India-US trade deal is set to be inked soon.
Gor also described the Quad coalition as an important grouping for cooperation among its member states.
The envoy said India and the US are taking their bilateral ties to the next level.
Gor made the remarks on the sidelines of an event at the AI Impact Summit here.
