Ahmedabad plane crash: DNA confirms identities of 223 of those killed

Eight days after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the identities of 220 persons who died have been confirmed through DNA testing, The New Indian Express reported on Friday.
The bodies of 204 persons have been handed over to their families as of 11.50 am on Friday, Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi told the newspaper.
This includes the bodies of two persons who succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital.
On June 12, Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, which was en route to London's Gatwick airport from Ahmedabad, crashed just 33 seconds after taking off. This is being viewed as the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade.
There were 242 people aboard the aircraft. One passenger survived with ' impact injuries '.
Thirty-four persons were also killed on the ground after the plane crashed into the hostel building of the BJ Medical College and Hospital in Ahmedabad, according to Air India.
Rakesh Joshi, the civil hospital superintendent, told The New Indian Express that among the 223 bodies that have been identified, 168 were Indians, 36 British citizens, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. Another 11 persons were those who were not in the aircraft, but were in buildings into which it crashed.
The remains of 15 victims were transported by air, while 189 were sent via road, the doctor added.
Meanwhile, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is yet to decide whether flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the aircraft that crashed will be sent overseas for analysis, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Thursday.
The decision will be taken 'after due assessment of all technical, safety, and security considerations'.
The ministry issued the clarification after certain media outlets reported that the recorders were being sent abroad for analysis.
'The Ministry of Civil Aviation urge all stakeholders to refrain from speculation on such sensitive matters and to allow the investigative process to proceed with the seriousness and professionalism it warrants,' the statement added.
The Tata Group's chairman N Chandrasekaran on Thursday told Times Now that one of the engines of the Air India plane that crashed was new and installed in March, while the other was installed in 2023 and was not due for servicing until December.

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Pre-take-off anchor cue: One small grounding ritual (touching your badge, closing your eyes for five seconds, or an affirmation like 'I am present, prepared, and protected') can flip your brain from anxious to anchored. 5. Protect off-duty time like airspace: Schedule one digital detox every three days, one full 'no crew talk' day every week and one practice that's only for you (not for duty, not for anyone else). It can be journaling, meditation, dancing – anything that keeps you peaceful and centered. 6. Seek support before feeling broken: Try solution-focused therapy or breath-based trauma work. Don't wait for breakdowns. Schedule maintenance, not rescue. See a therapist, if need be. Jayashree Narayanan writes on fitness, health, aviation safety, food, culture and everything lifestyle. She is an alumnus of AJKMCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia and Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi ... Read More