The Indian government is considering grounding Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet after one of its planes crashed, killing more than 240 people. 

The country’s Ministry of Civil Aviation is mulling grounding all Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners as a precautionary measure while a safety review takes place, sources told Indian broadcaster NDTV. 

Air India uses 787-8 for long-haul flights to the UK, North America and the Middle East, and the airline is expected to receive another one of the aircraft by the end of the year.

It comes after a Gatwick-bound passenger jet ploughed into a residential area of India’s Ahmedabad city within seconds of take-off, killing at least 265 people on board and on the ground.

On Friday, Narendra Modi has met the British sole survivor of the fiery crash on a visit to the devastated neighbourhood. 

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British businessman from Leicester, was in seat 11A next to one of the aircraft’s emergency exits when he miraculously survived the crash.

The Indian prime minister later posted on X: “We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. 

“Condolences to all the bereaved families. We understand their pain and also know that the void left behind will be felt for years to come. Om Shanti.”

Rescue teams with sniffer dogs continued to comb the site on Friday as investigations continue into the cause of the crash.