Rescue personnel on Saturday retrieved another body from the tail section of the crashed Air India AI-171 plane, taking the confirmed death toll to at least 265. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was headed to London when it crashed just 33 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon and crashed into a highly populated residential area within Meghani Nagar locality.
Officials stated that the newly recovered body was likely lodged in the aircraft’s tail, which remains embedded in the rooftop of a doctors’ hostel near BJ Medical College. The high-impact crash caused widespread destruction on the ground, killing dozens of residents in addition to the passengers onboard.
Crash Details and Casualties of Air India Flight
Air India Flight AI-171 had 242 on board, comprising 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 crew members. To date, only one survivor has been identified—British citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A.
The authorities said the wreck site remains a problematic area for relief and rescue operations because the plane disintegrated over residential buildings.
NSG Deployed, Multi-Agency Probe Underway
A National Security Guard (NSG) team has arrived at Ahmedabad to render aid for relief operations, as per a report by PTI. NSG commandos were seen on the rooftop where the tail of the aircraft is stuck. But authorities made it clear that the NSG is providing operational assistance and has no investigative role in the case.
Several agencies are conducting a thorough probe into the crash. These include the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ahmedabad crime branch, local police, and even National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials, who inspected the site on Friday.
In a major update, authorities have indicated that DNA testing of the recovered bodies will be hastened. Authorities hope to identify victims in three days, providing some consolation to mourning families eagerly awaiting closure.
