DEATH TOLL IN INDIA PLANE CRASH RISES TO 279
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Agency report
A total of 279 bodies have now been recovered from the crash site of a passenger jet that went down in a residential area of Ahmedabad, a senior Indian police official confirmed on Saturday.
The updated death toll—up from an earlier count of 265—was provided by a city officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. The new figure places the tragedy among the deadliest aviation disasters of the 21st century.
Air India confirmed that the flight, which was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, had 242 people on board. Tragically, only one person survived. An additional 38 people on the ground were killed when the aircraft plowed into residential buildings near the airport.
Authorities say the official casualty number will not be confirmed until ongoing DNA identification of victims is complete.
The airline reported that the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian, along with 12 crew members.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner issued a mayday call shortly before crashing, having reached an altitude of just about 100 metres (330 feet) moments after takeoff on Thursday around midday.
On Friday, investigators recovered one of the aircraft’s black box recorders from the wreckage, while forensic teams continue to search for the second.
Boeing, the U.S. manufacturer of the Dreamliner, said it is in contact with Air India and has offered its full support. A source familiar with the investigation said this is the first-ever crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
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