The death toll from Thursday’s tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has risen to 270, as several individuals who were injured on the ground succumbed to their injuries, according to medical authorities.
The ill-fated Flight AI 171, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel and its adjoining canteen complex just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The death toll was initially reported as 265 but has now been revised following further fatalities among the injured.
Onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were 242 individuals, including 230 passengers, two pilots, and ten crew members. Of these, 241 people died in the crash, leaving only one survivor—a British national of Indian origin—who is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Dr Dhaval Gameti, President of the Junior Doctors’ Association at BJ Medical College, confirmed to national media that approximately 270 bodies have been brought to the civil hospital so far from the crash site. Rescue operations continue in the Meghaninagar area, where the aircraft went down. The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) recovered additional human remains and a body within the past 24 hours. The crash site, which includes the heavily damaged hostel and canteen structures, remains a focus of ongoing recovery efforts.
Authorities have begun the process of identifying the deceased using DNA testing. The remains will be handed over to their families once identification is confirmed. Additional Chief Fire Officer Jayesh Khadia noted that a section of the aircraft’s tail fin remains lodged atop the damaged canteen building. Heavy cranes are being brought in to safely remove the structure.
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“We will begin removing the tail fin once Air India officials are present at the site,” Khadia said. The crash marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered commercial service in 2011.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed on Friday that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recovered the aircraft’s black box approximately 28 hours after the crash. The critical flight data recorder, located near the tail section of the plane, is expected to play a crucial role in determining the cause of the tragedy.
In light of the accident, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft in Air India’s fleet will undergo enhanced safety inspections starting Sunday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered advanced checks, including detailed monitoring of fuel systems, engine performance, and hydraulic mechanisms. The findings of these inspections will be reviewed thoroughly.
Earlier in the day, Minister Naidu, in his first media briefing since the crash, stated that multiple investigative agencies and expert panels are conducting an extensive probe. He confirmed that the black box is currently being decoded, and its contents will be vital in understanding the events that led to the crash.
Also Read: Ahmedabad crash toll rises as body found in tail
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