A family member of Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the British national currently believed to be the sole survivor of the Air India crash, has shared what the UK citizen told said in a phone call after the crash. Ajay Valgi, living in Leicester, said the Brit told his loved one he was "fine". The Gatwick Airport-bound plane crashed into a residential area in the city of Ahmedabad shortly after take-off on Thursday, while carrying over 240 people, including 53 British nationals.

Mr Valgi, who lives in Leicester, told the BBC he had been in touch to confirm he was "fine". Also speaking in Leicester, the survivor's brother, Nyan Kumar Ramesh, 27, told the PA News Agency: "We were just shocked as soon as we heard it. I last spoke to him yesterday morning. We're devastated. Just devastated. He said 'I have no idea how I exited the plane'."

Another relative named Jay said Mr Ramesh had spoken to his father immediatly after the crash and asked about his brother Ajay, who he is believed to have been travelling with.

"After the crash, he spoke to his dad worrying about his brother, saying 'Where's Ajay?'" he said. "He's got some injuries on his face. He was painted in blood. He was pretty much covered in blood, that's what his dad said."

"He's doing well, I think," Jay added. "It's a big shock. I don't have any words to describe the incident."

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying 169 Indian passengers, 53 Brits, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals when it crashed minutes after taking off at 1:39pm local time today.

A video circulated online showed the plane flying over residential buildings near Ahmedabad Airport before disappearing behind trees, followed by a huge explosion and plumes of black smoke.

Campbell Wilson, the chief executive of Air India, 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.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the crash as "devastating" and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi said it was "heartbreaking beyond words".