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Air India Flight 171 Crash Death Toll Rises to 270; Sole Survivor Identified
Death toll in Air India Flight 171 crash rises to 270. Only one passenger, a British citizen, survived. DNA testing underway to identify victims. Crash site cleanup and investigation ongoing.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-14
Air India Flight 171 Crash Death Toll Rises to 270; Sole Survivor Identified

The death toll from the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 has climbed to at least 270, according to local officials. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport, crashed into a medical college hostel just moments after takeoff on Thursday afternoon.

Out of the 242 people onboard, only one person survived — British citizen Vishwashkumar Ramesh, officials confirmed. In addition to passengers and crew, several people on the ground were also killed when the aircraft slammed into the building.

Identification of Victims Underway

Authorities in Ahmedabad are now engaged in a massive recovery and identification operation. Dhaval Gameti, a spokesperson from the Civil Hospital, said the facility had received about 270 bodies, many of which were charred beyond recognition.

Relatives of the victims have submitted DNA samples to help identify their loved ones. However, many expressed frustration at the slow pace of the process. “Where are my children? Did you recover them?” asked a distraught Rafiq Abdullah, who lost family members in the crash. “The government is not answering these questions.”

Officials have stated that DNA testing usually takes up to 72 hours, but efforts are underway to expedite the process.

Crash Investigation and Response

The Indian government has initiated a multi-disciplinary panel led by the Union Home Secretary to investigate the crash. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the panel will focus on developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent similar tragedies in the future. A final report is expected within three months.

Multiple agencies, including India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), are conducting independent probes. The AAIB has recovered one of the aircraft’s black box recorders and is still searching for the second. Experts have begun analyzing the data.

According to India’s Aviation Authority, the plane issued a mayday call shortly before crashing at around 1:38 p.m. local time. Radar data indicates the aircraft began to descend rapidly after reaching an altitude of 650 feet (nearly 200 meters), raising serious concerns about a possible mechanical or technical failure.

Passenger Details and International Response

Air India said the flight was carrying 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian, and 12 crew members.

American aircraft manufacturer Boeing has stated it is in contact with Air India and will provide technical assistance and support as investigations proceed.

As the cleanup continues at the crash site, grieving families and a shocked nation await answers. The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of aviation safety standards and prompted urgent calls for reforms in flight operation protocols.

 
Tagged:

AviationAccident

AirIndiaCrash

Flight171

AhmedabadCrash
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