Ahmedabad Air India Crash: DNA Confirms 32 Victims, 14 Bodies Handed Over To Families
DNA confirms 32 victims of Ahmedabad Air India crash; 14 bodies handed over to families as recovery and identification efforts continue at Civil Hospital.
In the aftermath of the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash, DNA of 32 victims has been matched with their relatives, and 14 bodies have been handed over to the families, confirmed a civil hospital doctor.
Three days after the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, DNA testing has confirmed the identity of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The confirmation came in at 11:10 am on Sunday. His remains will be transported to Rajkot via a chartered aircraft. His family is expected to decide on the funeral arrangements by 1:00 pm today.
India’s Worst Aviation Tragedy in Recent Memory
The crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI171, is now considered one of the deadliest air disasters in India's aviation history. The aircraft, bound for London Gatwick, went down shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived. Among the deceased were 230 passengers and 12 crew members, including nationals from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada.
In a horrifying twist, the jet crashed into the BJ Medical College campus, demolishing multiple buildings. Several victims were not passengers but rather students, healthcare workers, and locals in the Meghaninagar neighborhood.
Ongoing Identification and Forensic Efforts
By Friday, 270 bodies had been recovered and transferred to Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital. Due to the severe trauma to the remains, authorities are relying on DNA analysis to establish identities. A senior official confirmed that 319 body parts—both complete and fragmented—have been sent for forensic examination.
Flight Recorder Found, Cause Still Unclear
Search and rescue crews have been working around the clock. The aircraft’s black box, containing critical flight data and cockpit voice recordings, was found atop a mess hall roof within the medical college. Investigators also retrieved the Emergency Locator Transmitter on the night of the incident. These components are expected to provide crucial insights into what led to the tragic crash.
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