Air India crash LIVE: One survivor found as plane with 53 Brits crashes in Ahmedabad | World | News

The MP for Leicester East has said she understands “a handful of Leicester residents” were onboard the Ahmedabad to London flight that crashed.

Shivani Raja told BBC News that her community, which has a high population of British-Gujaratis, were “all really horrified and devastated waking up to such tragic news”.

“So far my understanding is that there are a handful of Leicester residents who were on board that flight but I am still awaiting for official reports on that”.

The Conservative MP said she, her family and her constituents have experienced delays on the “very popular flight route” and that she will be writing to the Indian authorities, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Air India regarding its safety.

A month ago one of her family members had their flight “delayed for over 24 hours due to an engine malfunction”, she added.

Ms Raja said: “I personally have had experience of delays due to certain malfunctions on this specific flight.

“My family members have also experienced the same, and I’ve had many constituents who have also written to me expressing that they’ve also experienced delays on this flight, so I will definitely be demanding answers and trying to get to the bottom of this and doing whatever I can in my capacity to support all the authorities who will work on the investigation to come.

She told the BBC: “I’m not trying to add to any speculation here, but one of my close family members, their flight was delayed for over 24 hours due to an engine malfunction and that was merely a month ago, so I do want to understand exactly – there has to be a reason why this plane has crashed right?

“And I’m determined to find out the cause of that.”