Air India confirms 241 people onboard were killed, with Briton the sole survivor
Air India has just confirmed that 241 people were killed in the crash of Flight AI171. The airline said the sole survivor is currently being treated in hospital.
In a statement posted to X, the airline said:
Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones.
A team of caregivers from Air India has been deployed to Ahmedabad to support grieving families and assist local officials. The airline added that it is fully cooperating with authorities leading the investigation.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787 en route to London Gatwick, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew when it crashed into a residential area, with further deaths reported on the ground.
Key events
Here are some images from Ahmedabad, where efforts to recover and identify bodies are ongoing.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai said 265 bodies had so far been counted, suggesting at least 24 people died on the ground, though the death toll may rise further.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Ahmedabad today, according to local media. The BBC has reported that a road leading to the crash site has been blocked and that there is a heavy security presence.
Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked foreign leaders and governments for their condolences, writing on X: “We appreciate this deeply.”
Air India has set up friends and relatives assistance centres at Gatwick, Mumbai, Dehli and Ahmedabad airports to provide support in the wake of the AI171 crash.
“These centres are facilitating the travel of family members to Ahmedabad,” the airline said in a post on X.
One of two black boxes has been found, local media reports
One of two black boxes has been found following yesterday’s crash, local newspaper Hindustan Times has reported.
Investigators will be looking to swiftly analyse this black box data. The Indian-led crash investigation will include experts from the UK Air Accident Investigation Branch, because of the number of British victims, the US National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing.
The Guardian’s Transport correspondent Gwyn Topham has written about the investigation, and the history of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. You can read his report here.
It’s now approaching 8am in Ahmedabad, where mourning families are giving DNA samples to identify missing relatives. Indian police said at least 265 bodies had been recovered from the site – both from the wreckage of the plane and the medical staff accommodation into which the jet crashed. The toll may rise further as more bodies are located.
AFP has spoken to families at the scene:
Ashfaque Nanabawa, 40, said he had come to find his cousin Akeel Nanabawa, who had been onboard with his wife and three-year-old daughter. He said they had spoken as his cousin sat in the plane just before takeoff.
“He called us and he said: ‘I am in the plane and I have boarded safely and everything was okay’. That was his last call.”
Nanabawa, speaking in the early hours of Friday morning, said he and his family had given DNA samples, but were yet to “identify any of the bodies”.
A dozen doctors were collecting the DNA samples inside a hall in the city.
“We have taken samples of babies and those above 80 years old. I don’t have words to explain this,” said a doctor, on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
“As doctors, you’re always prepared for the worst right?” the medic added. “But this is just overwhelming. Families are crying, looking for answers.”
“One person came to give the sample… his child, wife and mother were on the flight”, the doctor added. “What do I even say?”
A woman, too grief-stricken to give her name, said her son-in-law had been killed.
“My daughter doesn’t know that he’s no more”, she said, wiping away tears. “I can’t break the news to her, can someone else do that please?”
A team of caregivers from Air India arrived in Ahmedabad last night to provide support to its teams on ground, the airline has said. “We are working with local authorities to provide necessary assistance and are extending full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident,” Air India said in a statement.
N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of The Tata Group, which owns Air India, said he is “deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171”.
He said in a statement:
“No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured.
Tata group will provide Rs 1 crore [116,456USD] to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy. We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support.
Additionally, we will provide support in the building up of the B J Medical’s hostel.
We remain steadfast in standing with the affected families and communities during this unimaginable time.
Following on from the Boeing CEO cancelling his trip to the Paris Airshow next week, aircraft engine-maker GE Aerospace has postponed its investor day, Reuters has reported.
The company, whose engines were in the Boeing 787 plane, had planned an investor day on June 17 coinciding with the show.
It said on Thursday the briefing had been canceled and it would put a team together to go to India and analyze data from the crashed airplane.
“GE Aerospace’s senior leadership is focused on supporting our customers and the investigation,” the company said in a statement.
India’s government has opened a formal investigation into the cause of the crash. Here are some images from Ahmedabad.
Tributes have been paid to the British people who are believed to be among the more than 240 people who died in the Air India crash, the UK’s PA Media reports.
Raj Mishra, the mayor of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, called for people to come together as he announced the deaths of three people from his community.
Among those lost were Raxa Modha, infant Rudra Modha, and Ms K Mistri, all from our Wellingborough community. I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends and all those affected by this heartbreaking event.”
The Gloucester Muslim Community group offered “sincere and deepest condolences” after Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa and their daughter Sara were reported to be among the victims.
During this moment of overwhelming sorrow, our hearts go out to all those left behind. No words can truly ease the pain of such a profound loss, but we pray that the family may find solace in the tremendous outpouring of compassion and solidarity from communities across the world.”
Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, who run a spiritual wellness centre, were also said to be among the dead. Mr Greenlaw is said to have appeared on ITV’s This Morning earlier this year to talk about wellness and video online shows the pair laughing and joking as they filmed a video of themselves at the airport before taking off.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who is believed to be the only survivor of the crash, was on board the flight with his older brother Ajay.
One of their relatives said Vishwash had spoken to his father after the crash and asked after his brother.
After the crash he spoke to his dad worrying about his brother saying, ‘Where’s Ajay’?”
Sky News has managed to speak to Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who is thought to be the only survivor of the Air India crash.
They say he has been in a hospital ward since he exited the aircraft. They said he was sitting up in bed, was conscious and has a lot of bruising on his arms and face.
Local doctors said the British man has been walking and, other than a few scratches, all of the tests they have performed show he is miraculously unharmed.
Friends and family members of Britons Akeel Nanabawa and Hannaa Vorajee, who died alongside their four-year-old daughter Sara in the Air India crash, have been speaking to the BBC.
Sara has been described as a “ray of sunshine” who “lit up the classroom”.
The headteacher of her primary school, Abdullah Samad, said the couple were well-known for their charity work and generosity.
“They helped fundraise for the humanitarian efforts in Gaza and medical care for poor individuals in India. That was part of their service to the community,” he said.
In his email to staff, seen by Reuters, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said he and executive vice-president, Stephanie Pope, had been in touch with Air India leaders to offer their support.
He said he had spoken to Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the US national transportation safety board and committed to supporting the investigative process.
We are also supporting India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau as it is the lead agency conducting the accident investigation.”
He adds that it is important not to “speculate about the accident and let the investigators do their work.”
