A London-bound passenger plane crashed Thursday in India's western city of Ahmedabad with 242 on board, aviation officials said in what the airline called a "tragic accident".

Air India's flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff, officials said.

India's aviation minister said he was "shocked and devastated" by the crash in Ahmedabad, where an AFP journalist saw thick plumes of black smoke over the airport.

India's civil aviation authority said there were 242 people aboard, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew.