Eid Al Adha trip turns tragic: Infant’s DNA helps identify father who died in Air India crash

A devastating Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash on Thursday, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, tragically killed 241 of the 242 people on board.

The aircraft plummeted into a residential area, causing extensive damage and leaving most remains charred beyond recognition. Investigations are underway, and the black box has been recovered from the crash site.

Amid the grief, a deeply emotional detail has surfaced: eight-month-old Ibrahim’s DNA was used to identify his father, Mohammed Adnan, a UK-based passenger who died in the crash. Adnan had travelled to India with his wife, Mantasha, and their son to celebrate Eid Al Adha. He was returning to London alone on flight AI 171, while his family was set to follow later this month.

According to an NDTV report, with no other immediate relatives available in the city, Ibrahim's DNA sample became the crucial link for identification. Mantasha's brother, Dr. Nabeel, explained the difficult decision, stating, "We had no other option.

My sister’s blood didn’t work, and no one from Adnan’s family was in the city." This highlights the immense challenges faced by families trying to identify their loved ones in the wake of such a horrific disaster.

Among the victims was 26-year-old Lamnunthem Singson from Manipur, a crew member and sole breadwinner for her family. Her mother, a widow, is in shock and hasn’t eaten since learning of her daughter's death. Singson had spoken to her mother just a day before the crash, saying she needed rest before her flight.

Lamnunthem and Sharma were among the 24 crew and passengers aboard the doomed Dreamliner. Only one passenger survived the crash, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history.

The aircraft struck a medical college hostel on impact, killing several students inside. The official death toll will be confirmed after DNA analysis, said India’s Home Minister Amit Shah.

One relative who provided a DNA sample said authorities told them it may take 72 hours for identification. “We just want closure. So many people have died. This needs a proper investigation,” the man told ANI. 

Also from Manipur, 20-year-old medical student Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma was killed in the hostel. At least 10 people on the ground, including four medical students, lost their lives.