Ahmedabad plane crash: India orders Boeing 787 inspections as death toll tops 279

Authorities have identified 11 victims through DNA testing, with one body returned to the family. The identification process continues due to the large number of victims.

Most injured patients have been discharged; seven to eight remain hospitalised, including one critical case. The sole survivor is stable and will be discharged once fully recovered.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau vacated the Atulyam hostel for the probe, relocating displaced postgraduate students.

The Junior Doctors' Association confirmed four MBBS students died during lunch, 20 were injured, and 11 have been discharged. Four family members of super-specialty doctors also died, and one resident doctor’s wife is injured but recovering.

The Chief Fire Officer of Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Service, Amit Dongre, stated that 30 lives were saved during the rescue operations after an Air India flight crashed into a doctors' hostel at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad.

The Junior Doctor's Association of BJ Medical College confirmed that four MBBS students died while having lunch in the mess building, and 20 students were injured, with 11 discharged in stable condition. Additionally, four family members of super-specialty doctors living in the college campus also died, and one resident doctor’s wife was injured.

Following the Air India plane crash near Civil Hospital, five residential buildings housing medical students and super-specialty PG residents have been fully vacated due to structural damage and ongoing investigations.

The impacted buildings - Atulyam 1, 2, 3, and 4 - located near Ghoda Camp, along with another associated hostel building of B.J. Medical College and allied hospitals, have been declared unsafe for now.

Authorities have shifted more than 150 resident doctors from Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI), Civil Hospital, and the Heart Hospital to alternative accommodations. Each Atulyam building consists of 23 quarters, with 2–3 rooms per unit.

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.

India's Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said Air India Flight AI-171 sent a Mayday call at 1:39 pm (local time) on June 12, then lost contact before crashing one minute later near Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787-8 began losing altitude shortly after reaching 650 feet.

Captain Sumit Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Sundar were piloting. The plane had no prior accidents and had safely completed its earlier route that day. The runway was closed following the crash and reopened by 5 PM.

Minister Ram Mohan Naidu emphasised the critical role of the black box in the investigation, with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau leading the probe. Naidu also offered condolences, expressing deep sympathy for the nation’s loss.

King Charles III will lead a moment of silence during his annual birthday parade on Saturday to honour the victims of the Air India plane crash that killed 241 people this week. Members of the royal family participating in the ceremony will also wear black armbands as a mark of mourning, Buckingham Palace announced.

The monarch requested the tribute “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy,” the palace said.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that the black box from the crashed Air India Flight AI-171 has been recovered and will be crucial in determining the cause of the tragedy.

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 crashed in Medhaninagar, just two kilometres from Ahmedabad airport, shortly after takeoff on June 12. Of the 242 people onboard, only one survived.

Officials said the aircraft issued a Mayday call seconds after takeoff and lost contact within a minute. The runway was briefly closed and reopened for limited flights later that day.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced a three-month deadline for the high-level probe into the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. Speaking at a press conference, he said, “The past two days have been extremely difficult for everyone in the Ministry and across the nation. My deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones. Having lost my own father in a road accident, I understand their pain.”

He added that the crash near Ahmedabad airport was a national tragedy, and swift action was taken. “I rushed to the site immediately to assess the situation and ensure support. The Gujarat government had already mobilised rescue teams on the ground,” Kinjarapu said.

Grieving families are mourning at least 279 killed when a London-bound passenger jet crashed in India. One man on board the plane, which was carrying 242 passengers and crew, miraculously survived the fiery crash on Thursday afternoon.

The Indian government has set up a high-level committee, led by the Union Home Secretary, to investigate the crash’s cause and recommend safety improvements within three months. The panel includes officials from civil aviation, the Indian Air Force, security agencies, Gujarat government, and forensic experts. It will review flight records, cockpit data, and coordinate with foreign agencies and Boeing.

Investigators recovered the plane’s flight data recorder (black box) from a rooftop near the crash site. Forensic teams are working to extract data that could explain why the plane crashed after climbing only about 100 meters. The search for the second black box is ongoing. Recovery teams found at least 25 more bodies on Friday, bringing the total to 279.

BJ Medical College, near the crash site, canceled all internal MBBS exams and suspended summer vacations for medical faculty to assist the injured. Over 500 students were affected, with many vacating hostels due to trauma. At least 40 students remain deeply distressed.

The Air India flight AI-171 was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport. The crash left the plane’s tail embedded in a medical hostel, with the nose and front wheel hitting a canteen building. Rescue efforts continue amid national mourning. Boeing said it stands ready to support Air India in the investigation.