Authorities at a hospital in Ahmedabad handed over the first body of a victim from Thursday’s Air India Flight AI171 crash after completing DNA profiling, marking the beginning of a lengthy and emotional identification process. According the sources, the woman hails from Kheda in Gujarat. Following the handing over, the woman was cremated at her hometown.
Hospital sources confirmed that nine DNA matches have been established so far. In accordance with protocol, bodies are being released only after DNA confirmation and completion of legal formalities. Prior to this, eight victims, whose bodies were visually identified and remained largely intact, had already been released to their families.
As of Saturday, around 270 bodies had been transported from the crash site to the hospital. The final casualty count is still pending, as forensic teams continue DNA analysis on the severely damaged remains. Grief-stricken families from across India and abroad have been arriving in Ahmedabad to provide DNA samples, with many flying in urgently to assist the process.
Lone Survivor From Seat 11A: “I Don’t Know How I Came Out Alive”
Among the 242 passengers and crew members on board the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, only one person survived—Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old UK-based businessman. He was seated in 11A, the first row of economy class, near the emergency exits on the left side of the aircraft.
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According to Ramesh, the section opposite his seat was sealed off by flames and wreckage after the plane plummeted into a residential area, turning into a fireball upon impact.
“The door must’ve broken on impact,” he said. “There was a wall on the opposite side, but near me, it was open. I ran. I don’t know how.”
In a harrowing account to Doordarshan, Ramesh added, “For a while, I thought I was about to die. But when I opened my eyes, I saw I was alive. I opened my seat belt and got out of there. The airhostess and aunty-uncle all died before my eyes.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ramesh at the hospital on Friday to check on his recovery, as he continues treatment for burns and internal injuries.
The flight, which had issued a mayday call before crashing shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, was en route to London. The aircraft struck buildings near a medical hostel, leaving only its tailpiece jutting out from the rubble.
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Those on board included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian, and 12 crew members. Among the deceased were people from all walks of life, including a teenage tea seller and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Black Box Recovered, DGCA Orders Urgent Maintenance Inspections
Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed that the flight data recorder (black box) has been recovered and will be crucial to the investigation into what caused the catastrophic failure.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered Air India to immediately conduct enhanced inspections on all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft fitted with Genx engines. These checks include:
- Fuel Parameter Monitoring and system checks
- Cabin air compressor inspections
- Electronic Engine Control System testing
- Engine Fuel Driven Actuator operational tests
- Hydraulic and oil system checks
- Review of take-off parameters
In response to the tragedy, Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, has announced ₹1 crore compensation for each family that lost a loved one in the crash.
