Ahmedabad plane crash: 247 victims identified through DNA tests, 232 bodies handed over to kin

Ten days after Ahmedabad’s AI171 plane crash tragedy, 247 DNA samples of victims were matched by Sunday and 232 bodies were handed over to kin. 

The tragic Air India plane crash occurred on June 12, involving Flight AI171, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, encountered technical difficulties shortly after takeoff and crashed near the outskirts of Ahmedabad, resulting in the deaths of 241 people on board, including passengers and crew members.

The crash also claimed the lives of several people on the ground where it crashed, including a hostel building housing medical students.

Initial reports suggest a possible engine failure, but a detailed investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), along with international aviation authorities, is underway to determine the exact cause. The impact of the crash was devastating, with the aircraft disintegrating on contact and bodies severely charred, necessitating DNA testing for identification.

Currently, the debris from the crashed plane is being transported from the crash site to the airport hangar, where the deconstruction and investigation of the aircraft will take place.

Authorities had instructed that the wreckage should not be further damaged beyond its current condition. However, on Sunday, a truck transporting the plane’s tail section collided with a tree, causing the tail to become stuck.

This incident has now raised concerns over whether additional damage was caused to the tail section as a result of the mishap.