275 Confirmed Dead in Tragic Air India Dreamliner Crash in Ahmedabad

The tragic crash of Air India’s Boeing Dreamliner flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12 has officially claimed 275 lives, according to Gujarat health department data. Among the deceased are 241 individuals who were onboard the ill-fated aircraft, and 34 who were on the ground when the plane plummeted into a residential hostel complex in Meghaninagar shortly after takeoff.

The confirmation of the death toll was delayed due to the extensive DNA verification process required, as many bodies were charred or severely disfigured by the explosion and impact. Of the 275 bodies recovered, 260 were identified via DNA matching and six through facial recognition. So far, 256 remains have been handed over to the victims' families.

The deceased include 120 men, 124 women, and 16 children. The victims hailed from various regions, including Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Manipur, Maharashtra, Diu, and Nagaland. The crash also claimed the lives of several foreign nationals—52 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian citizen.

Officials stated that arrangements are being made to repatriate the remains of British nationals. The aircraft crashed just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history. Only one passenger miraculously survived.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash, with early reports suggesting a catastrophic dual engine failure. The nation remains in mourning, with tributes pouring in for the victims and their families.