Israel launches ‘major strike’ on Iran

Israel has launched a wave of airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities, marking a major escalation in regional tensions. Isareli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the operation would continue “as long as necessary”, according to Al Jazeera.

Iranian authorities have suspended all flights at Tehran's international airport, citing reports of damage to residential areas in the capital.

The US Secretary of State reaffirmed that the US was not involved in the strikes and cautioned Iran not to retaliate by targeting American bases. The incident occurred shortly after US President Donald Trump reaffirmed Washington's commitment to diplomacy with Iran, Al Jazeera reported.

UK responds to Air India flight AI171 crash

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Thursday that a team has been sent to India following the crash of Air India flight AI171. In a statement on social media, he described the incident as “absolutely devastating” and confirmed that Foreign Secretary David Lammy is leading the UK’s response.

Starmer stated that the UK is working closely with Indian authorities to investigate the cause and would provide timely updates. He is scheduled to chair a COBR emergency meeting later in the day, which is held by the Cabinet Office to coordinate government response during major crises, according to Xinhua.

Only one out of the 242 individuals on board survived.

 

Air India confirms 241 of 242 on board dead

An Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday (June 12, 2025) afternoon. Barring one miracle survivor, no one else could be rescued. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed in the crash.

The Boeing 787-8 aircraft took off at 1:38 p.m. Five minutes later, the aircraft plummeted into the B.J. Medical College hostel mess 5km from the airport, as over 100 students were gathered for lunch. A towering plume of smoke was visible from afar after a massive explosion, The Hindu reported.

Government sources said the pilots gave a ‘Mayday’ call immediately after takeoff, signalling a life-threatening emergency. The aircraft was steered by Pilot in Command Sumit Sabharwal, and co-Pilot Clive Kunder.

After meeting the sole survivor of the crash in hospital, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said none of the other passengers could be saved. “Due to the huge amount of fuel at 1.25 lakh litre and high temperature from the explosion, no one could be rescued,” he said. The Press Trust of India identified the survivor as Vishwaskumar Ramesh, who was travelling in the A11 seat of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, heading to London with his brother, according to The Hindu.

Vijay Rupani, former Gujarat Chief Minister, dies in Air India plane crash

Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, who served between 2016 and 2021, was among the passengers on the ill-fated London-bound Dreamliner that went down minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad, India Today reported.

Rupani's demise marks the second time a former Gujarat CM has died in a plane crash, six decades after Balwantrai Mehta's fatal air accident in 1965.