WATCH: Virat Kohli reacts to Ahmedabad plane crash, post goes viral

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli expressed shock and sorrow over the tragic Air India plane crash that occurred just outside the Ahmedabad airport. The London-bound Air India flight, carrying 242 people, crashed into a residential area in Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad, minutes after takeoff.

In the flight, Boeing 787 Dreamliner were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, seven Portuguese nationals, and 12 crew members. According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) officials, the aircraft took off from runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot issued a Mayday call, but further communication ceased as the flight failed to respond to subsequent calls from ATC. Moments later, the aircraft crashed just outside the airport perimeter.

"Shocked to hear about the plane crash at Ahmedabad today. Prayers for all those affected and thoughts with their families," Kohli took to Instagram to share his condolences.

Watch Virat Kohli's latest post expressing his condolences on plane crash here:

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The flight was captained by Line Training Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with over 8,200 hours of flying experience. The First Officer, Clive Kundar, had logged approximately 1,100 flying hours. As investigations into the crash commence and families await official confirmation on casualties, the nation continues to handle the shock of one of the most devastating aviation tragedies in recent Indian history.

“Multiple bird hits. It looks, prima facie, like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both engines have lost power. The take-off was perfect and just, I believe, short of taking the gear up, the aircraft started descending, which can happen only in case the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift. Obviously, the investigation will reveal the exact reason,” said former pilot Saurabh Bhatnagar to NDTV.