Authorities at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital have confirmed that 256 bodies of victims from the tragic Air India AI 171 crash have been handed over to families, with 259 victims identified through DNA and facial recognition so far.
Medical Superintendent Dr. Rakesh Joshi shared the update on Monday, stating that 253 DNA reports had been received as of 7 PM on June 23, which included 240 passengers and 13 non-passengers. Additionally, six victims were identified through facial recognition, bringing the total number of identified victims to 259.
“Out of the 19 non-passengers identified, six bodies were handed over based on facial recognition and 13 through DNA matching. This brings the total number of identified victims to 259, and 256 bodies have already been handed over to families,” Dr. Joshi told ANI.
He further detailed the nationalities of those handed over:
- 180 Indians
- 49 British nationals
- 7 Portuguese
- 1 Canadian
- 19 non-passengers
Of the 256 handed over, 28 bodies were transported by air, while the remaining 228 were transported by road.
All 52 British nationals on board have now been identified, with 49 already returned to their families and the remaining 3 prepared for transport.
The horrific crash occurred on June 12, when a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel complex in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar area shortly after takeoff. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Following the incident, Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson assured the public that the airline’s Boeing 787 fleet remains safe after undergoing thorough inspections as mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). “We have completed the additional precautionary checks… and the DGCA has publicly declared that they meet required standards,” Wilson stated.
Air India has also reiterated its support for the families of the victims. A central helpdesk, operational since June 15, continues to assist families in processing interim compensation claims of ₹25 lakh per deceased victim, aimed at helping them meet urgent financial needs.