AI 171 black box under AAIB probe; DGCA clears Boeing 787 as 256 bodies released

The black box of Air India flight AI 171, which tragically crashed near Ahmedabad earlier this month, remains in India and is currently being analyzed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), confirmed Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Tuesday.

“Black box of the crashed AI 171 flight is still in India and it is being examined by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau,” Kinjarapu said.

Meanwhile, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has handed over the bodies of 256 victims to their families and has identified over 259 individuals, according to Medical Superintendent Dr. Rakesh Joshi.

“A total of 253 DNA sample results were received by 7 pm on June 23, including 240 passengers and 13 non-passengers,” Dr. Joshi told ANI. “On day one, 19 non-passengers were identified; six bodies were handed over to families through facial recognition, and 13 by DNA matching. Adding these six, the total identified is 259, with 256 bodies returned to families so far.”

Breaking down the numbers, Dr. Joshi said, “Of the 256 bodies handed over, 180 were Indian nationals, 19 non-passengers, 49 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Twenty-eight were transferred by air and 228 by road.”

All 52 British passengers on board the flight have been identified, with 49 already sent to their families and three awaiting transport.

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, flight AI 171, crashed into a hostel complex near BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar area on June 12, shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Among those killed was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

In response to concerns over safety, Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson reassured the public that the airline’s fleet, especially its Boeing 787 aircraft, remains safe after comprehensive checks. “Have our aircraft been deemed safe? Yes. We have completed the additional precautionary checks on our operating Boeing 787 fleet as requested by the DGCA, who have publicly declared that they meet required standards,” Wilson stated.

With inputs from agencies