Ahmedabad ,India: The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 279 people, including 38 on the ground. Only one of the 242 passengers and crew survived. The plane struck a medical college hostel and nearby homes, causing major damage and forcing MBBS exam cancellations. A high-level committee, led by the Union Home Secretary, is investigating the crash and will recommend safety improvements within three months. Forensic teams are identifying victims via DNA, as many bodies were severely burned. Here are the latest updates.Following the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat government has begun handing over victims’ bodies to their families, deploying 230 teams to provide support. The deceased are from 18 districts, and families must present DNA verification and ID to collect the bodies.Death certificates are issued on the spot, and grief counsellors have been assigned to each family. Authorities have also contacted families of 11 foreign nationals. Meanwhile, the lone survivor is stable and recovering. Officials urged families to await DNA results before visiting the hospital.Air India will provide an interim payment of ₹2.5 million (₹25 lakh) each to the families of the deceased and to the survivor to assist with immediate financial needs, the Tata Group-owned airline announced on Saturday.King Charles III and other members of the royal family in uniform wore black armbands and observed a moment of silence during his annual birthday parade as the monarch commemorated those who died in this week’s Air India plane crash.Charles requested the symbolic moves “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy,” Buckingham Palace said.Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha confirmed that Air India Flight AI-171 crashed on June 12, shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad for London Gatwick. The Boeing 787-8, carrying 242 people, issued a Mayday call at 1:39 pm but lost contact with ATC and crashed one minute later in Medhaninagar, 2 km from the airport.The aircraft had reached 650 feet before losing altitude. Captain Sumit Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Sundar were at the controls.
The plane had no prior issues and had completed the Paris–Delhi–Ahmedabad route earlier that day. Ahmedabad airport was closed temporarily and resumed limited operations by 5 pm.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered an extended inspection of all Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft in India’s fleet, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said on Saturday. Of the 34 Boeing 787 planes, eight have already undergone urgent checks, with the rest to be inspected immediately.Naidu reaffirmed India’s strict safety standards and promised further action as investigations continue. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recovered the black box from the crashed Air India Flight AI-171, which is critical for determining the cause.The minister also assured ongoing support for victims’ families, including DNA testing for identifying the deceased, coordinated with Gujarat authorities.
