King Charles III wore a black armband and led a solemn tribute at today’s Trooping the Colour parade to honour the victims of the Air India Flight AI171 crash, which killed at least 270 people in Ahmedabad on 12 June.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London Gatwick, crashed minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, striking a medical college building. Authorities confirmed only one survivor from the 242 people on board, in what is now the deadliest global air disaster in over a decade.
As the monarch inspected troops at Horse Guards Parade, he and other senior royals — including Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Anne — wore black armbands in a visible sign of mourning. A minute’s silence followed the inspection, offering a poignant pause in the annual celebration marking the King’s official birthday.
The Royal Family’s tribute comes amid growing grief in the UK, where 53 British nationals were believed to be on the doomed flight. British consular teams are in Ahmedabad assisting with victim identification and family support.
A Buckingham Palace statement read:
“His Majesty the King is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in the Air India flight disaster. He sends his heartfelt condolences to all those affected, both in the UK and in India.”
The UK Civil Aviation Authority and AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) are assisting Indian officials and Boeing in the investigation.
The tragedy has cast a sombre shadow over the national celebration, with public tributes continuing across communities in the UK.
