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

Virat Kohli, an Indian cricketer, expressed shock and sorrow following the catastrophic Air India plane crash just outside Ahmedabad airport. The Air India flight destined for London, carrying 242 people, crashed into a residential area in Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner carried 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, seven Portuguese nationals, and 12 crew members. According to Air Traffic Control (ATC), the plane took off from runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot issued a Mayday call, but communication halted after the aeroplane failed to reply to following ATC requests. Moments later, the aircraft crashed just outside the airport’s boundary.

“I was shocked to learn of the jet tragedy in Ahmedabad today. Kohli expressed his sympathies on Instagram, saying, “Prayers for all those affected, and thoughts for their families.”

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

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.