Ahmedabad air disaster: Officials to start DNA tests to identify plane crash victims, avoid death toll discussion

DNA tests will be done to confirm the identities of people who died in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, a senior Gujarat health official said. However, he did not reveal the number of people who lost their lives.

The Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed just minutes after taking off at 1:39 pm from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Videos showed the plane suddenly dropping in altitude before crashing and bursting into flames, followed by thick smoke rising into the air.

“To identify the people who lost their lives in the crash, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has set up arrangements to collect DNA samples. Close family members, like parents or children of the victims, can visit Kasoti Bhavan at BJ Medical College to give their samples,” said Dhananjay Dwivedi, Principal Secretary of the state health department.


He did not confirm how many people had died in the tragedy.

Dwivedi also shared that the plane crashed into residential quarters of doctors who work at the Civil Hospital and students of BJ Medical College.

“Fifty people who were injured in the incident are being treated at Civil Hospital. All of them are in stable condition,” he added.

Inputs from PTI