Search and recovery operations entered their third day following one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters, as authorities continued combing the crash site of an Air India Boeing 787 that went down in Gujarat state, killing at least 270 people.
The London-bound aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel in a residential area of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff on Thursday, leaving 241 dead on board and at least 29 fatalities on the ground. Only one passenger, a British national, survived and is currently under medical observation.
Recovery teams working through Friday recovered an additional 25 bodies. Dr. Dhaval Gameti of Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital confirmed that 270 bodies had been received and that the sole survivor is in stable condition and may soon be discharged.
The crash site is the focus of a high-level investigation. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched a multi-disciplinary committee to examine causes and enhance future safety protocols. Investigators also recovered the plane’s flight data recorder from a nearby rooftop, a crucial component for understanding the events that led to the crash.
Meanwhile, grief-stricken relatives continue to provide DNA samples to help identify victims, many of whom are badly burned and unrecognizable. Families expressed frustration over the slow pace of identification and demanded answers from officials.
Among the victims was Canadian citizen Dr. Nirali Sureshkumar Patel, a Mississauga-based dentist, confirmed by her husband.
Experts say the data recorder may soon shed light on critical questions regarding mechanical function, crew communication, and pre-flight procedures. The crashed aircraft, a 12-year-old Boeing 787, marks the first fatal incident involving the Dreamliner in its 16-year history.
Swifteradio.com
