Families of the victims of Air India Flight AI171, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025, are enduring profound grief as they await the release of their loved ones’ remains at the city’s Civil Hospital.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew bound for London Gatwick, plummeted into a residential area in Meghaninagar, killing 241 on board and at least 32 on the ground, with one survivor from seat 11A under treatment. The crash, one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters, has left families grappling with a slow identification process due to the severe condition of most remains.
As of June 16, hospital authorities have identified 47 victims through DNA profiling, with 24 bodies handed over to kin. Eight victims, whose bodies were intact, were released earlier without DNA testing, while six more were matched by June 14, leaving over 200 families waiting. The hospital, handling 270 bodies, has forensic teams working round-the-clock, using dental records and DNA samples from relatives to identify charred remains. The process, hampered by the crash’s intensity—fueled by 125,000 liters of burning aviation fuel—has drawn criticism for delays, with some families camping outside the facility, clutching photographs and hoping for closure.
The sole survivor, a British national named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, remains in critical condition, offering no immediate answers. The crash site, where former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and crew members like Aparna Mahadik and Roshni Songhare perished, is under investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, with US and UK assistance.
Both black boxes have been recovered, with the flight data recorder found on June 13 and the cockpit voice recorder on June 16, and early evidence points to a rare dual-engine failure, though the cause remains unclear. India’s aviation regulator has ordered inspections of all Boeing 787s, impacting Air India’s long-haul routes. The crash, involving 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian national, has prompted international coordination for repatriation.
Families face logistical and emotional strain, with some unable to afford travel to Ahmedabad. The government has promised financial aid, with Tata Group offering ₹1 crore per deceased, but only 10% of pledged support has reached kin. Calls for accountability grow, with the Indian Medical Association urging corporate support for affected medical students. As funerals begin, the nation mourns, but the wait for remains prolongs the anguish for hundreds, underscoring the human toll of this tragedy.
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