Latest news with #MaheshJirawala
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Ahmedabad plane crash: 247 victims identified through DNA tests; 232 bodies given to kin as of June 21
A total of 247 victims of the horrific June 12 Ahmedabad plane crash have been identified through DNA tests so far and 232 bodies have been handed over to their families, officials said on Saturday (June 21, 2025). The authorities have asked the families of eight victims to submit the DNA samples of another relative, as the previous ones failed to match, they said. Police said the matching of DNA samples confirmed that Ahmedabad-based filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala, who was reported missing following the crash, died in the catastrophe. His mortal remains were handed over to his family. In Maharashtra, relatives and friends gave an emotional farewell to Deepak Pathak and Irfan Shaikh — two crew members of the ill-fated flight — at Badlapur in Thane district and in Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune city respectively. The London-bound aircraft crashed into a hostel complex in Meghaninagar moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.39 p.m. that day, killing 270 persons, including 241 on board. One passenger survived. Authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims as many bodies were charred beyond recognition as the aircraft burst into flames or damaged on impact. 'Till Saturday evening, 247 DNA samples have matched. Relatives of these deceased were contacted. So far, mortal remains of 232 victims have been handed over to families. The process is continuing,' Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Rakesh Joshi said. The 247 victims who have been identified comprise 187 Indians, 52 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and a Canadian, he said. Of the 187 Indians, a total of 175 were on board the ill-fated aircraft, he said, adding they belong to areas in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Diu and Nagaland. The state government had earlier stated that samples of 250 victims, including persons on board the ill-fated flight as well as those killed on the ground, were collected for identification. The families of eight victims have been asked to give a sample of another relative for DNA tests after the first one did not match, Dr. Joshi said. 'Unless there is a match, bodies cannot be handed over to the kin. When there is no match for a longer period of time, then you can ask for another sample from another relative. If one sibling has given the sample, then a sample of another sibling is sought for matching the DNA with that of the victim,' he said. 'We generally prefer a sample of father or son/daughter. If not, then we take a sample of another available member,' Dr. Joshi added.
Mint
5 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Ahmedabad plane crash: DGCA asks Air India for details of inspections, audits since 2024, says report
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought flight operations inspectors to provide details of all inspections and audits conducted for Air India since 2024, sources said on Saturday. The details on the findings of the inspections and audits will have to be submitted by Sunday, they said, news agency PTI reported. The DGCA has sought these details for 2024 and 2025 (to date), in an email communication which came a day after the aviation safety regulator issued a show-cause notice to the airline for flight duty time limitations (FDTL) violations, the report citing sources said. The DGCA had also ordered removal of the airline's three senior officials from their respective roles for certain lapses. The data has been sought on planned and unplanned inspections, audit, cockpit/enroute, station facility, ramp and cabin inspection among others, as per the communication, the PTI report added. The directives come after an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, killing over 270 people onboard and on the ground. The DGCA ordered Tata Group-owned Air India to remove three senior officials for lapses in crew scheduling and rostering and issued a show-cause notice to the airline for violating FDTL norms, sources said on Saturday. In its order of June 20, the DGCA noted that the three officials, including a divisional vice-president, were involved in "serious and repeated lapses, including unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings, violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms and systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversight". The DGCA directed the airline to initiate proceedings against these three officials without delay, the PTI report said. Air India in a statement said it has acknowledged the regulator's directive and implemented the order. "In the interim, the company's chief operations officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). "Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," the airline said in a statement. ARMS (Air Route Management System) is the software platform used by the airline for various operational and management tasks, including crew rostering and flight planning, among others. A total of 247 victims of the horrific June 12 Ahmedabad plane crash have been identified through DNA tests so far and 232 bodies have been handed over to their families, officials said on Saturday. The authorities have asked the families of eight victims to submit the DNA samples of another relative as the previous ones failed to match, they said. According to the report, police said the matching of DNA samples confirmed that Ahmedabad-based filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala, who was reported missing following the crash, died in the catastrophe. His mortal remains were handed over to his family. Authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims as many bodies were charred beyond recognition as the aircraft burst into flames or damaged on impact.
Mint
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Air India plane crash: DNA test confirms Gujarat filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala's death
Air India plane crash: What began as a desperate hope for the search for a 'missing' husband, ended up in a tragedy for Gujarat filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala's family after his death was officially confirmed a week after the deadly plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. The confirmation came after DNA test results matched his family's samples. "They were not ready to believe his death," sources aware of the matter told NDTV. Earlier, a burnt Activa scooter belonging to Jirawala was recovered from the site, raising suspicion that he may have been struck by the crashing aircraft. The Gujarati filmmaker's wife had also shared that Jirawala's mobile phone's last known location was 700 m away from the crash site. Naroda-resident Mahesh Kalawadia, also known as Mahesh Jirawala, went to meet someone at Law Garden area on June 12 afternoon. Mahesh Jirawala's wife, Hetal told news agency PTI that her husband had called her up around 1:14 pm, informing her that his meeting was over. At 1:40 pm — a minute after the deadly crash — Jirawala's phone was switched off. Remains of the crashed Air India plane lie on a building, in Ahmedabad "His phone got switched off around 1:40pm. His scooter and mobile phone are missing. All this is unusual since he would never use that route (as per the last location) to come home. We have submitted DNA samples to check if he was one of those killed on the ground due to the crash," said Hetal. A Naroda-resident, Mahesh Kalawadia, also known as Mahesh Jirawala used to direct music albums. Mahesh Jirawala was a well-known name in Gujarat's music and short film circles. His directorial work spanned across various formats, but he was specially recognised for the 2019 Gujarati film Cocktail Premi: Paw of Revenge, which starred Asha Panchal and Vritti Thakkar, mentioned a report by Gujarat Samachar.
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Gujarati Filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala confirmed dead in Ahmedabad plane crash
The death of Gujarati filmmaker Mahesh Kalavadia, also known as Mahesh Jirawala, has been officially confirmed days after the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. DNA test results matched samples provided by his family, confirming he was among those killed on the ground. Jirawala, a well-known director of Gujarati music videos and awareness films, had been missing since the crash. His last phone location was traced to around 700 metres from the crash site near B J Medical Hostel in Shahibaug, raising fears among family members. Reported NDTV. "My husband called me at 1.14pm to say his meeting was over and he was on his way home. When he didn't return, I tried calling him but his phone was switched off," his wife Hetal told PTI. "Later, police told us his last location was around 700 metres from the crash site. His phone switched off at 1.40pm just a minute after the flight took off." She added, "His scooter and mobile were missing. He never used that route to return home. That's when we feared something had happened and submitted DNA samples."
Mint
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Air India plane crash: DNA test confirms Gujarat filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala's death; family 'not ready to believe'
Air India plane crash: What began as a desperate hope for the search for a 'missing' husband, ended up in a tragedy for Gujarat filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala's family after his death was officially confirmed a week after the deadly plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. The confirmation came after DNA test results matched his family's samples. "They were not ready to believe his death," sources aware of the matter told NDTV. Earlier, a burnt Activa scooter belonging to Jirawala was recovered from the site, raising suspicion that he may have been struck by the crashing aircraft. The Gujarati filmmaker's wife had also shared that Jirawala's mobile phone's last known location was 700 m away from the crash site. Naroda-resident Mahesh Kalawadia, also known as Mahesh Jirawala, went to meet someone at Law Garden area on June 12 afternoon. Mahesh Jirawala's wife, Hetal told news agency PTI that her husband had called her up around 1:14 pm, informing her that his meeting was over. At 1:40 pm — a minute after the deadly crash — Jirawala's phone was switched off. Remains of the crashed Air India plane lie on a building, in Ahmedabad "His phone got switched off around 1:40pm. His scooter and mobile phone are missing. All this is unusual since he would never use that route (as per the last location) to come home. We have submitted DNA samples to check if he was one of those killed on the ground due to the crash," said Hetal. A Naroda-resident, Mahesh Kalawadia, also known as Mahesh Jirawala used to direct music albums. Mahesh Jirawala was a well-known name in Gujarat's music and short film circles. His directorial work spanned across various formats, but he was specially recognised for the 2019 Gujarati film Cocktail Premi: Paw of Revenge, which starred Asha Panchal and Vritti Thakkar, mentioned a report by Gujarat Samachar. All but one, aboard the ill fated Air India flight, and 29 others on ground were killed on Thursday, June 12 after the Boeing Dreamliner crashed into BJ Medical College Hostel's mess.
