Air India Crash: 125 DNA Matches Confirmed, 83 Victims’ Bodies Handed Over to Families

Gujarat: The aftermath of the devastating Air India crash continues to unfold as authorities intensify efforts to identify and return the mortal remains of those who perished in the tragedy. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Monday confirmed that DNA matches have been successfully completed for 125 victims, and the bodies of 83 individuals have already been handed over to their grieving families.

The ill-fated London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on June 12 shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, slamming into a nearby hostel complex. The tragedy claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

In a press briefing, Home Minister Sanghavi provided an update from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, where DNA analysis is being jointly conducted by teams from FSL and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). Commending the relentless dedication of forensic teams, Sanghavi stated, “For many days now, the teams at FSL and NFSU have been working around the clock. As of 10:58 pm last night, DNA samples of 131 victims had been matched. We expect six more confirmations shortly.”

He added that senior officials from the police department and forensic teams had been working late into the night every day, monitoring the entire process closely to ensure speed and accuracy.

“The Gujarat government has been working in close coordination with the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to ensure smooth communication with families. Our priority has been to hand over the remains of their loved ones as quickly and respectfully as possible,” Sanghavi said.

Dr Rakesh Joshi, Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, also confirmed that DNA verification had been completed for 119 victims so far. He added that the mortal remains of 14 more victims are scheduled to be returned to their families by tomorrow morning.

“We are doing our best to keep up with the pace of identifications, even as we receive a flood of calls from distressed families. There is panic, and understandably so. But as we complete each DNA match, the process of returning the bodies continues steadily,” Dr Joshi noted.

Authorities are emphasizing empathy and precision as they manage this complex and emotionally charged process. With more than 240 lives lost, this incident marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history.

The scale of the tragedy has led to an extraordinary mobilization of resources, with forensic experts, police officials, and hospital staff working in unison to bring closure to families. As DNA identification continues, officials reaffirm that their commitment remains focused on dignity for the deceased and compassion for the living.

The Gujarat government has also set up dedicated help desks and grief support units at Civil Hospital to aid families arriving from across India and abroad. With panic mounting and many still awaiting confirmation, authorities urged patience and assured that every effort is being made to complete the process with urgency and care.