King Charles says shocked by India plane crash that killed UK nationals among others

King Charles on Thursday said he and his wife, Queen Camilla, were desperately shocked by a plane crash that killed more than 100 people in India.

An Air India plane bound for London with 242 people on board crashed minutes after taking off from India's western city of Ahmedabad , authorities said, one of the country's worst aviation disasters.

Citing sources, Reuters reported that the passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants. Of them, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.

In a statement issued by the Buckingham Palace, the king said, "My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning."

The statement said, "Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones."

The British monarch paid tribute to the "heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time."

According to Reuters, the plane was headed for Gatwick Airport, south of the British capital, while police officers said it crashed in a residential area near the airport.

More than 100 bodies, most of them badly charred, had been brought to the local government hospital for autopsy, police said.

"The building on which it has crashed is a doctors' hostel... we have cleared almost 70% to 80% of the area and will clear the rest soon," a senior police officer told reporters.

Parts of the plane's body were scattered around the building into which it crashed, photographs and videos from the area showed. The tail of the plane was stuck on top of the building.

India's CNN News-18 TV channels said the plane crashed on top of the dining area of state-run B.J. Medical College hostel, killing many medical students as well.