Death Toll Rises to 270 in Air India Crash as Investigators Probe Boeing 787 Disaster in Gujarat
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 14
- 3 min read
Search and recovery operations continued for a third day at the crash site of Air India Flight AI-117, which plunged into a residential neighborhood in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, killing at least 270 people in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London, struck a medical college hostel just minutes after takeoff on Thursday. Among the dead are 241 people on board and at least 29 individuals on the ground. One passenger miraculously survived the crash.
Officials confirmed late Friday that recovery teams discovered an additional 25 bodies in the debris. Dr. Dhaval Gameti at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital confirmed the hospital had received 270 bodies so far. He added that the sole survivor remains hospitalized and is “doing very well,” with doctors expecting a discharge soon.
Most bodies were severely burned or mutilated, requiring DNA identification. Hundreds of grieving families have provided DNA samples, though many expressed frustration over delays in retrieving the remains of their loved ones. “Where are my children? Did you recover them?” asked Rafiq Abdullah, whose daughter-in-law, nephew, and two grandchildren were on the flight. Another relative repeatedly demanded the release of a body for last rites, pleading with staff at the hospital.
The Indian government has launched a high-level, multi-disciplinary committee to examine the systemic causes of the disaster. While not a replacement for official crash investigations, the committee will focus on improving emergency response protocols and preventing future incidents. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced Saturday that inspections of Air India’s entire Boeing 787 fleet are underway. Eight of 34 aircraft have already been examined, with the rest to follow “with immediate urgency.”
Investigators recovered the aircraft’s flight data recorder on Friday from a rooftop near the crash zone. The black box is expected to provide critical clues about the cause of the crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau stated it is working “with full force” to extract and analyze the data.
Experts say the black box will reveal engine performance, control settings, and cockpit audio. Paul Fromme of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers noted that the cockpit voice recorder could confirm whether the crew was aware of any impending system failure. Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti explained that investigators will likely focus on the setting of wing flaps, engine function, environmental data, and loading weights. Errors in any of these parameters could have contributed to the crash.
The downed aircraft was a 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Though Boeing has faced scrutiny over safety issues in other models, this marks the first fatal crash involving a 787 since the aircraft entered service 16 years ago. Globally, over 1,200 Dreamliners are currently in operation.
As the investigation continues, India’s aviation ministry has pledged full transparency and accountability. Authorities are prioritizing the safe identification and dignified return of victims to their families, while tightening aviation safety procedures nationwide.
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