Air India Plane Crash: Death Toll Rises to 274 as More Bodies Recovered from Debris

Ahmedabad, June 14: The death toll in the catastrophic Air India plane crash rose to 274 on Saturday after rescue teams pulled out more bodies from the wreckage of the London-bound aircraft that went down near the BJ Medical College campus on Friday. The crash claimed the lives of nearly all passengers and crew aboard, as well as several people on the ground.

The ill-fated aircraft, carrying 242 people — including 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and 2 pilots — crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport. Only one person survived the tragedy, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history. Among the casualties was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose presence on the flight was confirmed by official sources.

Casualties and Nationalities:

According to Air India, the aircraft was carrying:

• 169 Indian nationals

• 53 British nationals

• 7 Portuguese nationals

• 1 Canadian national

In addition to those onboard, the crash claimed the lives of medical students and civilians on the ground as the aircraft, laden with fuel for the long-haul journey, exploded upon impact and engulfed several buildings in flames.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) confirmed the recovery of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) — commonly known as the black box — from a rooftop near the crash site. A comprehensive investigation has been launched, supported by over 40 Gujarat State Government officials working alongside central agencies.

The flight was captained by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned Line Training Captain with over 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had completed 1,100 flight hours. The aircraft took off from Runway 23 at 13:39 IST and issued a Mayday distress call shortly after departure before communication was lost.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on Friday evening and met survivors receiving treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. He expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and assured all necessary assistance and support from the central government.

While initial indicators point to a possible technical failure, officials are awaiting a detailed analysis of the flight data and cockpit voice recordings to determine the cause of the disaster. Air India has announced full cooperation with the investigation and promised compensation to the families of all victims.

As rescue and identification efforts continue, the tragedy has cast a long shadow over the nation's aviation sector, triggering widespread grief and renewed calls for enhanced air safety protocols.