The Gujarat Health Department has announced that the remains of 245 individuals who died in the June 12 air crash in Ahmedabad have been returned to their families, following confirmation of identity through DNA profiling. The tragedy involved an Air India aircraft en route to London, which departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm but crashed moments later into a student hostel in Meghaninagar, resulting in a devastating fire.&nbsp;
The crash claimed 270 lives, including 241 passengers and crew members. A single passenger survived the incident.
Due to the intensity of the explosion and the fire, many bodies were either burned beyond recognition or severely disfigured, rendering DNA analysis the only reliable method for confirming identities.
Dr Rakesh Joshi, who serves as the medical superintendent at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, reported, &ldquo;A total of 251 victims of the crash have been identified through DNA tests. The bodies of 245 victims, comprising 176 Indians, 49 British nationals, seven Portuguese and one Canadian as well as 12 non-passengers, have been handed over to kin.&rdquo;
The identified victims include residents from several districts and regions: 70 were from Ahmedabad, 24 from Vadodara, 26 from Anand, and 11 from Kheda. Others hailed from across India, including Rajasthan, Manipur, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Bihar, and the Union Territory of Diu.
Dr Joshi further stated that the identification process was being carried out with both urgency and precision: &ldquo;Since the process of DNA sample matching is very sensitive and involves legal protocol, it is being completed with seriousness and speed. The Forensic Science University and associated institutions, local administration, health and other departments of the state government and various agencies are working tirelessly to hand over the mortal remains to kin.&rdquo;
Officials were also required to contact the relatives of eight victims once more on Saturday after earlier DNA submissions failed to yield matches. New samples were requested from other close family members to proceed with identification.
Meanwhile, Gujarat police have begun the relocation of the wreckage of the crashed aircraft to the premises of GUJSAIL (Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Company Limited) at the airport. The operation to transfer the remains of the plane, which struck the hostel moments after take-off, commenced on Sunday.
According to Joint Commissioner of Police (Sector 2), Jaipalsinh Rathore, &ldquo;We have started moving the wreckage of the Air India plane, that crashed here, from today to the GUJSAIL building.&rdquo; He noted that the shifting process is expected to take between 48 and 72 hours.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will retain custody of the debris as part of its ongoing investigation into the accident. Alongside the AAIB&rsquo;s efforts, the United States&rsquo; National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting a parallel international probe.
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Wreckage relocation begins as 245 crash victims’ bodies returned to next of kin.

251 Bodies Identified in Ahmedabad Plane Crash

Wreckage relocation begins as 245 crash victims’ bodies returned to next of kin.

June 23, 2025 | 13:09 IST