Efforts to identify the victims of the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash continued on Saturday, with authorities collecting DNA samples from grieving family members at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. The crash, which occurred on June 12, claimed 241 lives, with all victims’ bodies charred beyond recognition, making DNA analysis the only viable method for identification.
So far, samples from over 250 individuals have been collected as part of the intensive forensic operation. Officials are working round-the-clock to expedite the matching process.
In response to the disaster, the Government of India has constituted a high-level multi-disciplinary committee to investigate the causes of the crash and recommend preventive measures for the future.
According to an official order from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the committee — headed by the Union Home Secretary — will examine existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), flight data, cockpit recordings, aircraft maintenance logs, and witness testimonies. It will also assess the emergency response from all stakeholders, including rescue efforts and inter-agency coordination.
The panel is expected to deliver its findings within three months and will suggest improvements in aviation policies, training, and emergency protocols. The government emphasized that this committee will complement, not replace, investigations being conducted by other regulatory and investigative bodies.
The committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Indian Air Force, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and other relevant state and national authorities, as well as aviation experts.
The tragic incident, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, remains one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent history.
