National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) official Hariom Gandhi on Friday stated that rescue operations are still underway at the site of the Air India flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, and the final casualty count will only be known once the site is fully cleared.
“Our six teams are actively working on the ground,” Gandhi told reporters at the crash site. “We are also maintaining a standby team. Until the area is completely cleared, we cannot confirm any final numbers. Please wait for some time.”
While the NDRF holds off on giving definitive figures, Air India confirmed post-midnight that out of the 242 individuals onboard—including 230 passengers and 12 crew members—241 have been confirmed dead. The sole survivor, a British national of Indian origin, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12, 2025, when it crashed shortly after take-off near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, striking a resident doctors’ hostel building.
Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national, as per airline data.
The ill-fated flight was captained by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 hours of experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 flying hours.
According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) records, the plane took off from Runway 23 at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) and issued a Mayday call shortly after take-off. However, communication was lost soon after.
The crash site, located just beyond the airport perimeter, was engulfed in heavy black smoke, according to initial reports from first responders.
In response to the tragedy, the Tata Group—which owns Air India—has announced Rs 1 crore compensation for each bereaved family.
As rescue and recovery operations continue, authorities urge patience while awaiting the complete assessment of the site.
