The death toll in the Air India plane crash has risen to 270, as per updated figures released by the BJ Medical College doctors on Saturday. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Flight AI 171), which was en route to London, crashed into a medical hostel complex in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
Dr. Dhaval Gameti, President of the Junior Doctors Association at BJ Medical College, confirmed that around 270 bodies have been received by the Civil Hospital so far. The process of identifying victims through DNA matching is ongoing, and bodies will be handed over to families once verified.
Authorities had earlier estimated the death toll at 265. Additional human remains continue to be recovered from the crash site, including a full corpse and body parts found in the rubble of the hostel’s canteen building, according to Additional Chief Fire Officer Jayesh Khadia.
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Of the 242 people on board, 241 have been confirmed dead, with only one survivor. The crash also claimed the lives of residents and staff present in the hostel complex. Hostels Atulyam 1 to 4, used by postgraduate students, are now being vacated to facilitate investigations by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
In response to the tragedy, the Central government has established a high-level multi-disciplinary committee headed by the Union Home Secretary. The panel has been tasked with examining the causes of the crash and recommending robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for preventing such disasters in the future. The Civil Aviation Ministry clarified that this panel will not replace the ongoing investigations by existing agencies.
Several national and local bodies are engaged in the probe, including the AAIB, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ahmedabad Crime Branch, local police, and the National Security Guard (NSG), which has been deployed to assist in site clearance and relief operations. While NSG personnel do not hold investigative authority, their presence at the crash site — particularly near the aircraft’s tail fin lodged atop the canteen building — is aiding operational logistics.
The wreckage removal process is also underway. Fire officials confirmed that cranes are ready to extract the tail fin once Air India representatives arrive at the crash site. The incident, one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in Indian history, has drawn widespread grief and calls for accountability. The government’s newly formed investigative committee is expected to submit its report within three months.
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