Authorities in India have confirmed that at least 279 people have died following Thursday’s devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad, making it one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in recent history.
A senior police officer in the city, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed the updated death toll on Saturday.
The figure surpasses an earlier count of 265 and includes both passengers and people on the ground.
The Air India flight, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 people, of whom only one survived.
The remaining casualties, at least 38 in total, were residents in the densely populated neighborhood where the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had barely lifted 100 meters off the runway when it issued a mayday signal, moments before plunging into the residential area near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The process of officially identifying all victims is still ongoing, with authorities relying on DNA testing due to the severity of the crash.
Air India revealed that the passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian, along with 12 crew members.
Rescue teams recovered one of the aircraft’s black boxes on Friday, and search efforts are continuing for the second recorder to aid in the ongoing investigation.
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, confirmed it is in contact with Air India and has offered full support during the inquiry.
A source familiar with the situation noted that this marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
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