Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash Updates: DNA matches rise to 27; 3 bodies handed over to families

Daman and Diu MP Umesh Patel stated that 15 people from Diu were aboard the crashed Air India flight—14 of whom died, while the sole survivor is also from Diu. After meeting the victims’ families, Patel said their DNA samples had been collected, but the bodies had yet to be returned, causing growing concern. He added that administrative officials informed him DNA tests had been completed, and five bodies would be handed over today, with the rest to follow once reports are finalized. Patel assured the families of his continued support within his capacity.

CPI General Secretary D Raja reiterated the party’s call for a high-level investigation into the Ahmedabad plane crash, emphasizing that the inquiry must be fair and unbiased. He stressed the need to uncover the root cause of the tragedy by identifying lapses and ensuring that such incidents do not happen again. Raja also criticized Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he seemed dismissive and often makes statements as though he’s beyond question.

As part of the continuing identification process after the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash, 16 more DNA reports have been completed, raising the total to 27. Earlier in the evening, 11 reports had already been finalized. The hospital authorities have notified the victims' families, and today, the remains of three more individuals were handed over to their next of kin.

Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash Live: Odisha Youth Congress holds prayer meet for Ahmedabad plane crash victims

Leaders and members of the Odisha Youth Congress gathered to offer prayers for the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

Karnataka Minister HK Patil described the plane crash as a tragic incident that warrants a thorough judicial investigation. Patil says, "It is an unfortunate accident. It needs a thorough judicial inquiry. Required technical actions have to be initiated. There is nothing like giving a political reaction. It is a guilt that the entire country is suffering from because the accident has taken place in an Indian plane and on Indian land..."

Volunteers from the local Christian community are racing against time, working tirelessly to build 120 wooden coffins to facilitate the dignified transport of remains of the Ahmedabad plane crash victims to their families.

Led by father-son coffin makers Ardesh and Melvyn Rajwadi, the team has already completed 25 coffins by Saturday evening, demonstrating incredible dedication in the face of tragedy.

The Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has also released official contact numbers to assist families:

9429915911, 9429916096, 9429916118, 9429916378, 9429916608, 9429916622, 9429916682, 9429916758, 9429916771, 9429916875.

The Civil Hospital will compile all necessary legal paperwork, including the post-mortem report and death certificate. For those choosing air transport, Air India will assist in flying the bodies home, but families are advised to coordinate flight details with the hospital in advance.

The government has arranged free ambulance services to help transport the mortal remains of the Ahmedabad plane crash victims to their homes by road. Families collecting the bodies are required to carry valid identification documents for both themselves and the deceased.

Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Ahmedabad, said the hospital has begun handing over the identified bodies of plane crash victims to their families. Relatives are required to provide valid ID to confirm their relationship. Death certificates are being issued immediately after identification. He also confirmed that contact has been established with the families of 11 foreign nationals, and their bodies are expected to be handed over by tomorrow.

Dr. Rajnish Patel, Additional Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Ahmedabad, stated that DNA identification has been completed for 11 victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash. One set of mortal remains has already been handed over to the family, and two more are expected to be released later today. He emphasized that the process is slow and requires careful handling. Additionally, another body was recovered today from the tail section of the aircraft.

Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Ahmedabad, said that grief counsellors have been appointed to help families of the Ahmedabad plane crash victims cope with psychological trauma. Additionally, 230 dedicated teams have been deployed to reach out to the families and provide necessary support and assistance.

Doctor Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, reported that DNA profiling of 11 victims has been completed. He also noted that one body has already been handed over and two more will be handed over by tonight

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called on the government to provide compensation to the families of those who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash and to ensure that accountability is established. He emphasized that during a tragedy of this scale, it is inappropriate for anyone to seek credit. With the black box now recovered, Kharge said the investigation should proceed without premature blame, and those found responsible must be held accountable.

Air India has announced an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh or approximately 21,000 GBP each to the families of the deceased and to the survivor, to help address immediate financial needs. This is in addition to the Rs 1 crore or approximately 85,000 GBP support already announced by Tata Sons.

Sources have confirmed that DNA profiling has been completed for 9 out of the 270 victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash. The identities of all 9 have been positively matched with confirmation from their families. The first body has already been handed over, while final paperwork is underway for the remaining 8. It is expected that all eight mortal remains will be returned to their families by late evening.

Speaking on the Ahmedabad plane crash, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra called it a major tragedy. Vijayendra says, "This is a huge tragedy that took place in Ahmedabad. More than 250 people have died... Our central government, led by PM Narendra Modi, has taken a very serious note of this... The investigation has already commenced since the black box has been recovered."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has reached Ahmedabad. During his visit, he is scheduled to inspect the site of the Air India plane crash and meet with those injured at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

Olympics medal winner pugilist Vijender Singh offers condolence to affected families and calls for strict action in the Ahmedabad plane crash. He says, "It is very sad, it is being said that it was an accident, I express my condolences, I am with all the affected families. But how to check such accidents, there should be strict action against whoever is found guilty."

Air India Spokesperson reported that Air India is currently carrying out one-time safety inspections on its Boeing 787 fleet, as directed by the DGCA. These checks are being performed as aircraft return to India and must be completed before their next scheduled flights. So far, nine aircraft have been inspected, and the airline is on track to complete checks on the remaining 24 within the regulator’s timeline. The process may increase turnaround times and could cause delays, particularly on long-haul routes to airports with curfews. Passengers will be informed of any disruptions and are encouraged to check their flight status at airindia.com before heading to the airport. Air India is offering full refunds or complimentary rescheduling options for affected travellers.

Talking about the large-scale rescue operation following the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Chief Fire Officer Amit Dongre of the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services said around 30 people were rescued. He says, "If we talk rescue operation, our team saved almost 30 persons. About 360 personnel were involved to control the fire. There are 19 fire stations here, every fire station responded... Due to special equipment, we were able to get into the smoke and do rescue. The investigation is going on. One casualty was found today morning. Only after complete work, we will leave the operation. It was a very sad incident, the team worked hard, they got support from everyone."

Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash Live: Efforts underway to lift the damaged tail section of AI 171 from BJ Medical College hostel roof

The damaged tail section of the London-bound Air India flight is currently being removed from the rooftop of the burnt-out doctors' hostel at BJ Medical College.

In a gesture of respect after the recent tragic crash, Air India has officially retired the flight number AI-171. The Ahmedabad–London service will now operate under the new flight number AI-159.

In a press briefing, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said that India maintains rigorous safety standards. He said, We have very strict safety standards in the country...When the incident happened, we also felt that there is a need to do an extended surveillance into the Boeing 787 Series. DGCA has also given an order to do the extended surveillance for the 787 planes. There are 34 in our Indian aircraft fleet today. I believe that 8 have already been inspected and with immediate urgency, he added

During the press briefing, Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that a second high-level committee, headed by the Home Secretary, has been formed to further examine the incident. The committee includes key officials such as the Civil Aviation Secretary, Director General of BCAS, and Director General of DGCA. The high-level panel is expected to submit its findings within three months, he added.

In a press briefing, Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that a seven-member team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the crash of Air India flight AI 171 which killed more than 270 people.

Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu reported that there are 34 Boeing 787 operating with Indian airlines at the moment, safety audits of 8 of these aircraft is being carried out and the rest will also be audited

"Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was immediately mobilised after the air india flight ai 171 crash. A team of seven members of the AAIB are investigation the air india flight ai 171 crash," said Naidu.

"There are 34 Boeing 787 operating with Indian airlines at the moment, safety audits of 8 of these aircraft is being carried out and the rest will also be audited," said Naidu.

All Boeing 787 aircraft to be inspected; 8 have already been inspected of these, says Ram Mohan Naidu. The government feels there is a need to investigate into the safety features of the Boeing 787 aircraft, added the aviation minister

"A second high level committee has been constituted to look into the air india flight ai 171 crash led by home secretrary. Other members high level committee include MoCA secy, DG BCAS, DG DGCA among others," said Civil Aviation Minister Naidu.

A total of 270 bodies of the victims of the Air India plane crash have been brought to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital so far, its doctors said on Saturday.

In the last 24 hours, the city fire brigade has recovered one body as well as some body parts from the plane crash site, officials said.

"Around 270 bodies have been brought to the civil hospital so far from the plane crash site," Dr Dhaval Gameti said.

Air India Plane Crash: "The accident that happened in Ahmedabad is definitely sad," says Union Minister Pratap Rao Jadhav

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited the Directorate of Forensic Sciences of the Home Department to review the DNA testing process in the AI-171 plane case. The Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Director of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) also joined him at the Directorate.

Gujarat Police officials also reached the Directorate of Forensic Sciences.

The collection of DNA samples from the family members of the victims of the tragic plane crash continued on Saturday to help identify the bodies. Many came to the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad to provide their samples.

Officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) arrived in Ahmedabad, where the London-bound Air India flight crashed on June 12, killing 241 people out of 242 onboard. The AAIB, a division under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is responsible for probing aircraft accidents in India

On Thursday, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that a formal investigation has been launched into the crash of Air India flight AI-171.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday raised serious questions about possible sabotage in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 people. He asked whether there was any cyber attack on the system of the plane by any enemy country, as they try to target India's military installations with their cyber attacks. Read more

Ahmedabad plane crash: NSG, NDRF, Air Force, etc inspect the wreckage of the Air India flight

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu will chair a high-level meeting on air safety on Saturday in the national capital, two days after an Air India Plane crashed in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives on board.

The meeting will take place at 10:30 AM in the Ministry office and will be attended by the Civil Aviation Secretary, the Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials, and other senior ministry officials.

Airbus SE said the fatal accident on Thursday in India involving a Boeing Co. airliner should spur the industry as a whole to advance its safety culture, dismissing the notion that the crash could bring a competitive edge to one planemaker over the other in the global duopoly.

“Safety is in everything that we do, so the tragedy in India, we don’t see that in any way, shape or form as a competitive input,” Christian Scherer, who oversees Airbus’s commercial aircraft operation, said at a press meeting in Paris. “It is, if anything, a reminder to us all that aviation has become so safe that, statistically speaking, every accident is totally unacceptable.” Read more

The collection of DNA samples from the family members of the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash continued on Saturday, to help identify the bodies. Many came to the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad to provide their samples.

Samples from over 250 people have already been collected in the massive identification effort. The victims' identification relies entirely on DNA results, as the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

A day after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 near Ahmedabad airport, which claimed 241 lives, the airline has decided to discontinue the flight number and replace it with a new one, officials familiar with the matter told Hindustan Times.

“The flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick [London] will be re-numbered to AI 159. The return flight too will be changed to AI 160,” an official told Hindustan Times on condition of anonymity. “The change will start to reflect soon,” the official added. Read more

A senior commercial pilot who has flown the same Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad talks about what might have gone wrong in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters.

Captain Rakesh Rai, who operated Boeing 787s for Air India until last year, told NDTV the details of the aircraft’s performance traits, his experiences with the Dreamliner, and his thoughts on what may have led to the crash of Flight AI-171. He also remembered his colleague and friend, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who lost his life in the crash. Read more

As the nation mourns the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in, tributes poured in from across India and around the world to honour the 274 lives lost, including 241 passengers and crew and 33 ground victims.

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) on Friday held a prayer ceremony at the Mahabodhi Temple to remember the victims. In Uttarakhand's Haridwar, hundreds gathered on the banks of the Ganga River. Locals and priests lit lamps and performed rituals to pray for peace for the departed souls. Read more

A high-level multi-disciplinary committee, headed by the Union home secretary, will examine the causes that led to the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, and also suggest comprehensive guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future.

The civil aviation ministry said the committee will not be a substitute to other enquiries being conducted by relevant organisations. The panel “will focus on formulating SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for preventing and handling such occurrences in the future”, and will publish its report in three months, the ministry said. Read more

high-level multi-disciplinary committee, headed by the Union home secretary, will examine the causes that led to the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, and also suggest comprehensive guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future.

The civil aviation ministry said the committee will not be a substitute to other enquiries being conducted by relevant organisations.

The panel "will focus on formulating SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for preventing and handling such occurrences in the future”, and will publish its report in three months, the ministry said.

The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) held a prayer ceremony and lamp offering at the Mahabodhi Temple on Friday to honour the memory of those who died in the tragic Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad.

The deadly accident has shaken the country and led to condolences and prayers pouring in from several states.

The death toll in the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash has increased to 274, after salvage teams found 29 additional bodies on Friday. This includes 241 passengers and crew onboard, and 33 victims who were on the ground when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the BJ Medical College campus. Read more

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule on Friday raised serious concerns over India's transport safety, calling civil aviation a big alarm and a "red flag for a long time."

"Civil aviation is a big alarm. It's been a red flag for a long time. I request the Government of India to come out with a white paper," she said.

"The entire transport, be it roads, airways or civil aviation, there are a lot of concerns about safety." She added, "I thank Nitin Gadkari because he has been openly asking MPs to focus on safety. Road safety has been his priority. All of us have tried our best to work with him to make sure infrastructure and safety improve," she added.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary said that with privatisation of air travel, there is a need for better safety and security checks in aircraft. The Congress leader also demanded an unbiased judicial probe into the incident.

The Congress leader also said that the plane which crashed, a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, has faced technical problems before.

"Today air travel is not just a luxury, but a necessity. People don't use it for fun, but for their work, which has increased the number of passengers too. That is why, with this, we should be paying more attention to the safety and security of aircraft. Dreamliner 787 was already having a technical snag, reportedly. It was also told that in 2024 itself, the technical snags will be fixed," the Congress leader said.

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has described the Air India plane crash as a "regrettable accident", while extending his condolences to the families of all the passengers and the Air India crew on that plane.

"It was a regrettable accident. Right now, it is not even known whether anyone on the ground, or any doctor or student, was killed. I want to express my condolences to the families of all those passengers and the Air India crew on that plane. We hope that the reason behind this accident is revealed as soon as possible. We can only hope that such an accident does not happen again," he said.

The parents of Roger Christian, one of the victims in the AI 171 plane crash, on Friday demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. They said that their son wanted to take them to Europe and promised to have them travel to different countries too.

Roger's father, David Christian, requested the government to investigate the incident and ensure strict action against the people responsible. He also said that such an incident should not be repeated so that another family does not lose their sons or daughters.

"We urge the administration to investigate this. We have lost our son and daughter-in-law but we request that this should not happen to anyone, so strict action should be taken against whoever is guilty," he said.

King Charles III will on Saturday lead a moment's silence in memory of the Ahmedabad-London Air India plane-crash victims after making amendments to his annual Trooping the Colour birthday parade.

Buckingham Palace said the 76-year-old monarch wanted the alterations "as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy".

Former Deputy Director of the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Saligram J. Murlidhar, called the Ahmedabad plane crash one of the most unfortunate incidents, and raised the possibility of fuel contamination as a major factor behind the tragic incident.

"One of the reasons that can cause thrust loss, power loss, which prevented the aircraft from climbing, is fuel contamination. So if the fuel is contaminated, both engines will behave the same way, and the thrust generated is less, and the aircraft could not sustain the climb rate. It descended and it fell because it contained more than 35 tons of fuel to reach London. The moment it crashed, there was a big, huge fireball," he said.