Ahmedabad:More than 290 people died when an Air India flight to London crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, marking the worst aviation disaster worldwide in a decade. The crash, which occurred during lunch hour, also killed people on the ground as the plane hit a medical college hostel. Air India said the flight included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. According to India’s aviation regulator, the crew issued a Mayday call shortly after takeoff. Here’s a timeline of the latest developments as it unfolded.Families await DNA match to identify victims
Grieving families are awaiting DNA results to identify victims of the Air India AI-171 crash, which killed 241 of 242 people onboard.
One victim, Keenal Mistri, was returning to London after a dental visit to India. Her family said DNA results may take up to 72 hours.The Boeing 787-8 crashed on June 12, hitting a BJ Medical College hostel and bursting into flames. Most bodies were badly charred, requiring forensic identification.Locals helped rescue students, but some remain missing, including the mother and child of a hostel cook.A formal investigation is underway. Gujarat ATS has recovered a DVR from the crash site to assist in the probe.The Gujarat ATS has recovered a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from the wreckage of the Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday, ANI reported. All passengers and crew, except one, died in the crash.An ATS official said the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team will examine the device. Unlike flight or cockpit recorders, a DVR captures onboard video footage and could help investigators understand the final moments before the crash.Investigators continued combing the crash site of one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters on Friday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the sole survivor.Rescue teams are conducting DNA tests to identify the predominantly charred remains, and expect to recover additional victims as debris is cleared. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been located.
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Modi meets sole survivor
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Friday the charred neighbourhood where a London-bound passenger plane crashed, killing at least 265 people on board and on the ground.Modi, who called Thursday’s crash of the Air India Boeing 787-8 “heartbreaking beyond words”, was shown by Indian broadcasters walking around the site in Ahmedabad, the main city in the leader’s home state of Gujarat.
