The death toll from the catastrophic Air India Flight AI-171 crash has risen to 270, with grieving families growing frustrated over delays in the release of badly charred bodies, authorities said on Saturday.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew to London Gatwick, plummeted seconds after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, erupting into a fireball upon striking buildings below in one of the deadliest aviation disasters globally in a decade.
Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors Association at B.J. Medical College, confirmed to reporters that at least 270 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, which included a medical college hostel.
Only one passenger survived, while the remaining 241 on board perished, alongside ground victims. The tragedy has cast a pall over Air India, which has been striving to restore its reputation and modernise its fleet since the Tata Group acquired it from the Indian government in 2022. Tata’s chairman stated on Friday, “We are committed to understanding the cause, but the details remain unclear at this stage.”
According to Reuters, Air India and Indian authorities are investigating multiple factors, including potential issues with engine thrust, flap settings, and the landing gear, which remained extended during the brief flight and subsequent crash.
At an Ahmedabad hospital, scores of anguished relatives waited outside, seeking the remains of loved ones as medical teams worked round-the-clock to collect dental samples for identification and DNA profiling.
Rafiq Abdul Hafiz Memon, who lost four family members, expressed frustration, saying, “We’re getting no clear answers from authorities. I’m exhausted. We’ve lost our children, and we need information about when their bodies will be released.”
Another grieving father, awaiting the body of his son Harshad Patel, was told by officials that DNA profiling could take 72 hours. “The authorities are doing their best, but our patience is wearing thin,” he said.
Most victims’ bodies were severely burned, complicating identification efforts. Forensic dentist Jaishankar Pillai told reporters on Friday that dental records for 135 victims have been collected, which will be cross-referenced with prior dental charts, radiographs, or other records to confirm identities.