DNA identification of 220 victims who perished in the Air India plane crash on June 12 in Ahmedabad has been completed, the Gujarat Health Department said on Friday.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London with 242 people on board, crashed just seconds after takeoff, slamming into nearby buildings. All but one passenger on board were killed, along with several people on the ground.
Out of the 220 identified victims, 202 bodies have been handed over to their families. These include 151 Indian nationals, 34 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian, and nine non-passengers.
According to the Health Department, 15 mortal remains were transported by air, while 187 were moved by road using ambulances to their respective destinations across the country.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said that the remaining bodies will be handed over soon.
https://x.com/irushikeshpatel/status/1935945967104082349
In the wake of the crash, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Thursday conducted a nationwide review with airport directors to assess preparedness amid growing disruptions in flight schedules. The disruptions have been attributed to post-crash technical checks, adverse weather conditions, and the closure of airspace linked to geopolitical tensions.
The Minister directed airport authorities to ensure the availability of food, drinking water, and seating at terminals during delays. He also called for increased staff deployment at key points to address passenger grievances and to assist airlines facing operational challenges. Wildlife hazard management, particularly the prevention of bird strikes and stray animal interference, was also reinforced as a safety priority.
In another meeting with the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, the Minister reviewed steps being taken to maintain flight operations and public communication. With night flying restrictions in Europe and heightened safety checks limiting aircraft availability, Air India will temporarily reduce its services and restructure schedules. The airline has committed to offering rebookings or full refunds to affected passengers.
On June 18 and 19, the Ministry also held meetings with the senior management of SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Akasa to review fleet readiness, safety oversight, and passenger handling. The government has decided to institutionalise regular reviews with airlines to improve coordination and response in emergency scenarios.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with international assistance, is continuing its probe. Both the Digital Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder have been recovered from the site. The Ministry has said the decision to send the black boxes abroad for decoding will be made based on technical and security assessments.
The Ministry has urged the media and the public to avoid speculation and to allow the investigation to progress. Officials reiterated their commitment to transparency and to maintaining the highest standards of passenger safety.