Ahmedabad: The aftermath of the tragic Air India AI-171 crash continues to unfold as authorities confirm that 215 DNA matches have been established and the mortal remains of 198 victims have been handed over to their families. The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar area shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Addressing the media on Thursday, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr. Rakesh Joshi confirmed that the identified victims included 149 Indian nationals, 32 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. “Out of the 215 matched DNA samples, 198 mortal remains have already been handed over to the families. Of these, 15 were transported by air and 183 by road via ambulances,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik provided additional details, revealing that a total of 222 victims have been identified—214 through DNA matching, and eight through other means, such as personal belongings and visual identification. “While police are involved in general investigation, the technical analysis, such as black box examination, is being carried out by specialized agencies. The probe is ongoing,” Malik added.
Meanwhile, in response to the broader implications of the crash, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu convened a high-level virtual meeting with Airport Directors across India. The meeting was aimed at reviewing airport preparedness, especially in light of flight delays and disruptions caused by post-crash checks, unpredictable weather, and airspace restrictions due to global geopolitical tensions.
According to an official statement from the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Minister issued several directives to improve passenger support and service standards. Airports have been asked to maintain close coordination with airlines to address delays and disruptions in real-time. They were also directed to ensure the availability of essential amenities like food, drinking water, and adequate seating, especially during long wait times. Adequate deployment of personnel at key touchpoints was also stressed to proactively manage passenger grievances.
As India mourns one of its worst aviation disasters in recent memory, the focus now shifts to supporting grieving families, maintaining transparency in the investigation, and ensuring that the tragedy prompts stronger safety protocols and emergency response systems across the country’s civil aviation network.
