HomeNationDeath Toll Rises to 274 in Air India Flight AI-171 Crash

Death Toll Rises to 274 in Air India Flight AI-171 Crash

Ahmedabad: The death toll in the horrific crash of Air India’s London-bound Flight AI-171 climbed to 274 on Saturday, after rescue teams recovered more bodies from the charred remains of the BJ Medical College campus and surrounding areas. The ill-fated aircraft crashed on Thursday shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, erupting into a massive fireball due to the large volume of fuel onboard for the long-haul journey.

The catastrophe claimed the lives of 241 people onboard—including 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew members, and two pilots—as well as several individuals on the ground. Among the ground casualties were medical students present on the BJ Medical College campus when the aircraft slammed into its premises.

Only one person miraculously survived the crash. Authorities confirmed that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also among those who perished.

According to an official statement from Air India, the passenger manifest included:

169 Indian nationals

53 British nationals

7 Portuguese nationals

1 Canadian national

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Friday confirmed the recovery of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR)—commonly known as the black box—from the rooftop of a nearby building. The DFDR is expected to provide vital clues as to what caused the crash. The AAIB has launched a comprehensive investigation, assisted by more than 40 Gujarat State Government personnel on the ground.

The flight was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had clocked 1,100 hours. The aircraft took off from Runway 23 at 13:39 local time, and issued a Mayday call shortly before all communication was lost.

In a gesture of solidarity and grief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on Friday and met with the lone survivor and other injured victims at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

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