The death toll from the Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has tragically climbed to at least 270 as recovery efforts continue in the wake of one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters. Officials and medical staff have confirmed the grim figure as search teams meticulously comb the crash site, a residential area that included a medical college hostel.
Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed into the Meghani Nagar locality shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The 11-year-old aircraft went down less than a minute after becoming airborne, striking a building used for doctors’ accommodation at the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital.
Mounting Fatalities and the Sole Survivor
The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew members. Heartbreakingly, all but one person on board perished in the disaster. The Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed receiving 270 bodies in total. While 241 are believed to be from the aircraft itself (including 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian passengers, and 12 crew), the final count includes those killed on the ground when the plane impacted the residential area.
The sole survivor from the flight has been identified as 40-year-old British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, who was seated in seat 11A. Ramesh, currently under observation at the Civil Hospital for injuries including a burnt hand, recounted the terrifying moment the plane “came to a standstill” mid-air before the crash, expressing profound disbelief at his survival. Doctors report he is recovering well and is expected to be discharged soon.
Challenging Identification Process
Identifying the victims has presented a significant challenge due to the severe nature of the crash, which left many bodies charred or mutilated. Hundreds of grieving relatives have provided DNA samples at the hospital to assist authorities. While DNA matching typically takes up to 72 hours, officials are working to expedite the process. However, families are understandably experiencing immense frustration and anguish over delays in identifying their loved ones and receiving bodies for final rites, pressing for answers and faster procedures.
Investigation Underway
An extensive investigation into the cause of the crash is being led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from teams from the United States and the United Kingdom. A crucial development came on Friday with the recovery of the aircraft’s digital flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box, found on a rooftop near the crash site. Officials have begun the critical work of extracting data from the device, with experts noting it should provide vital information on engine and control settings. Authorities are also searching for the second recorder, the cockpit voice recorder.
Aviation safety consultants suggest that preliminary findings on the cause could be available relatively quickly if the black box data is intact. Investigators are likely examining factors such as correct wing flap settings, potential engine power loss, cockpit alarms, and accuracy of critical flight data logged by the crew.
In response to the disaster, the Indian government has formed a high-level, multi-disciplinary committee tasked with not only examining the causes but also formulating future procedures to prevent and handle aircraft emergencies. A report from this panel is expected within three months.
Response and Context
As a preventive measure, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered additional safety checks on Air India’s fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. Air India has also announced it is inspecting its entire fleet of 34 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with “immediate urgency,” having already examined eight aircraft by Saturday.
High-profile figures, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, visited the crash site and met with injured individuals, including the sole survivor. Vigils honouring the dead have taken place across both India and the UK.
Despite safety concerns surrounding other Boeing models, this incident marks the first fatal crash involving the 787 Dreamliner in the 16 years the model has been in operation globally, with approximately 1,200 aircraft currently in service.
