DNA testing identifies victims of Air India B787-8 crash

More than 250 victims of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad have now been formally identified through DNA testing.

On June 22, 2025, Indian authorities confirmed that 251 victims of the crash and the remains of 245 have been returned to their families. The catastrophic accident, one of the deadliest in Indian aviation history, claimed the lives of a total of 275 people. This includes 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 34 people on the ground.

According to the medical superintendent at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, the victims include 176 Indian nationals, 49 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian, and 12 people classified as non-passengers. Joshi noted that 26 of the repatriated remains were flown to families abroad, including 10 to the United Kingdom.

Authorities are still working to identify over two dozen individuals believed to have perished in the crash but whose remains have not yet been definitively matched.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operated by Air India and bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) on the morning of June 12, 2025. It plunged into a residential zone in the heart of Ahmedabad, striking the grounds of the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital.

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Following the tragedy, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has launched a new audit system to strengthen safety across the aviation sector. The updated framework came into effect on June 19, 2025, and the audits have already started.

The audits focus on how various components of the aviation system interact. They include airlines, airports, maintenance providers, training organizations, and other key services. Instead of checking each area separately, the new method looks at the entire system as a whole to improve safety, daily operations, and rule compliance.

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DNA testing identifies victims of Air India B787-8 crash

Led by senior DGCA officials and supported by specialists, the audit teams are now visiting sites, reviewing documents, speaking with staff, and analyzing safety data. If issues are found, the organizations must submit clear action plans to fix them within set timelines.

Authorities say this new system should help detect risks early and support a stronger safety culture.The post DNA testing identifies victims of Air India B787-8 crash appeared first on AeroTime.

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