Air India plane crash: 144 DNA samples have been matched, says Gujarat Home Minister
Gandhinagar: Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi confirmed that the DNA samples of 144 victims in the Air India plane crash has been successfully matched as of 12 pm on Tuesday.
In a post on X, Sanghavi said, "Air India crash update: As of 12 pm, 144 DNA samples have been matched."
The testing was being done by teams from the FSL and National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU).
Earlier on Monday, Sanghavi confirmed that DNA samples of 125 victims in the Air India plane crash had been successfully matched, and families of 124 deceased had been contacted. The mortal remains of 83 victims were handed over to their families.
The minister visited the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, where DNA testing of the deceased was being conducted.
Meanwhile, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi said on Tuesday that the number of BJ Medical College students who died because of the Air India crash remains at four.
Speaking to the mediapersons, Rakesh Joshi said,"...The death toll of BJ Medical College students stands at 4. It has not gone up."
He also said that Vishwas, the only survivor from the crash, is in stable condition and slowly improving.
"Vishwas's (the lone survivor of the flight crash) condition is stable and improving gradually," Joshi said.
Kumar, a British national of Indian origin, was seated in row 11 at the left window seat in the flight's economy class section that's positioned right behind an emergency exit.
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft crashed into a hostel complex shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, killing 241 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The last rites of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani were performed with full state honours on Monday in Rajkot.
The former CM, who lost his life in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, was cremated by his son Rushabh Rupani.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
5 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Unruly passenger handedover to airport security after mid-air altercation on Air India flight from Amritsar to Delhi
New Delhi: Air India has confirmed an incident of disruptive passenger behaviour aboard flight AI454 from Amritsar to Delhi on Saturday, prompting intervention from cabin crew and airport security. Air India confirmed that an incident of unruly passenger behaviour occurred on board flight AI454 from Amritsar to Delhi on 28 June. "During cabin preparations for landing, a member of our cabin crew noticed a passenger standing in the aisle, engaged in a verbal altercation with another passenger. The second passenger reported to the crew that the individual was being abusive," the airline said. Air India's crew acted swiftly to de-escalate the situation, relocating the affected passenger to a business-class seat for the remainder of the flight. Upon landing at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, the airline's security team--previously alerted by the pilot--was on standby to address the issue. The disruptive individual was handed over to airport security for further investigation. "Our cabin crew immediately de-escalated the situation by relocating the second passenger to a business-class seat for the duration of the landing. Following a complaint by the second passenger, the pilot-in-command notified our security team on the ground about the situation, who were present upon the flight's arrival in Delhi. The disruptive passenger was handed over to the airport security for further investigation," the airline said. Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive behaviour and prioritises the safety and well-being of all passengers and crew," a spokesperson said. "We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities, and the matter is now under their purview," the airline added. In line with guidelines set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), airlines are required to take such incidents seriously. Under DGCA norms, carriers must establish an internal committee to investigate the matter and determine any necessary action, including the possibility of placing the passenger on India's no-fly list.
Times of Oman
5 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Chennai-bound Air India flight returns to Mumbai due to burning smell inside cabin
Mumbai: A Chennai-bound Air India flight returned to Mumbai, its departure location, after being alerted about a burning smell inside the cabin, the airline confirmed on Saturday. According to Air India, the incident occurred on Friday (June 27) on flight AI639, which departed from Mumbai and was headed to Chennai. "The crew of flight AI639 operating from Mumbai to Chennai on Friday, June 27, 2025, made a precautionary air-return to Mumbai due to a burning smell in the cabin," an Air India spokesperson said. "The flight landed safely back in Mumbai, and an aircraft change was initiated. Our ground colleagues in Mumbai provided all necessary support to passengers to minimise the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption," the spokesperson added. In another incident, a non-specific security alert was detected on one of Air India's aircraft on Friday. The aircraft was cleared for the next flight after standard security procedures, the Air India spokesperson said. A statement issued by the Air India spokesperson said, "A non-specific security alert was detected on one of our aircraft. Standard security procedures were duly carried out, and the aircraft has been cleared for the next flight. Air India accords top priority to the safety and security of its passengers and crew." Earlier, Air India Express (a subsidiary of Air India) flight IX2564, operating from Delhi to Jammu, was forced to return to its point of origin after a technical issue was detected mid-flight. The flight, operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, had a scheduled departure time of 10:40 AM but took off at 11:04 AM. It was expected to arrive in Jammu at 12:05 PM. However, the aircraft was diverted back to Delhi, as per Flightradar24. Confirming the development, an Air India Express spokesperson said, 'An alternative aircraft was arranged to operate our Delhi-Jammu flight after the original aircraft returned to Delhi due to a technical issue. We regret the inconvenience caused.' These security concerns have come to light following the crash of the London-bound Air India-171 flight in Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 out of 242 passengers and crew members on board.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlights terrorism's threat to world at SCO meeting in China
Qingdao: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has condemned terrorism at a meeting on Thursday of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in China's Qingdao, emphasizing the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of terrorist acts accountable and bring them to justice. "We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross border terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomever committed. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally," said Rajnath Singh. He highlighted the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which was carried out by 'The Resistance Front' (TRF), a proxy of the UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). "On 22 April 2025, the terror group 'The Resistance Front' (TRF) carried out a dastardly and heinous attack on innocent tourists at Pahalgam in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. 26 innocent civilans, including a Nepali national, were killed. Victims were shot at after they were profiled based on religious identity. The Resistance Front which is a proxy of UN designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack," added Singh. He said that India successfully launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, to dismant cross-border terrorist infrastructure. "The pattern of Pahalgam terror attack matches with LeT's previous terror attacks in India. In exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross border terrorist attacks, India on 07th May 2025 successfully launched Op Sindoor to dismantle cross border terrorist infrastructure," said Singh. At the SCO meeting, the Defence Minister reaffirmed India's resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, adding that terrorism is a transnational threat that demands a unified response from nations. "These threats do not respect national boundaries, and they demand a unified response rooted in transparency, mutual trust, and collaboration." He emphasised the need to counter the technology used by terrorists, including drones, for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs. The Minister highlighted the complexity of modern threats, which include transnational terrorism, cyber-attacks, and hybrid warfare. "We should seek to counter the technology used by terrorists, including drones, for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs. In our interconnected world, traditional borders are no longer the sole barriers against threats. Instead, we face an intricate web of challenges that range from transnational terrorism and cyber-attacks to hybrid warfare," said Singh. He emphasised the need for proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalization among youth. The Minister highlighted the significant role played by the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) mechanism of the SCO in this regard. "We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalization among our youth. The RATS mechanism of SCO has played a significant role in this regard. The joint statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on 'Countering Radicalization leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism' issued during India's Chairmanship symbolises our shared commitment," added Singh. He highlighted India's proactive approach to defending itself against terrorist threats and emphasised that India will not hesitate to target epicentres of terrorism, ensuring that those who sponsor and perpetrate terrorism are held accountable. "India's zero tolerance for terrorism is manifest today through its actions. This includes our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them," added Rajnath Singh. He emphasised the need for countries that sponsor, nurture, and utilize terrorism for their own interests to be held accountable for their actions and criticized the practice of using cross-border terrorism as a policy tool and providing shelter to terrorists, calling for an end to such double standards. "It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilize terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations," added Singh. He said that peace and prosperity are incompatible with terrorism and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. "Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges require decisive action and we must unite in our fight against these evils for our collective safety and security," said Singh. The Defence Minister identified the biggest challenges facing the region as peace, security, and trust-deficit issues. According to him, these problems are primarily caused by increasing radicalization, extremism, and terrorism. "I believe that the biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust-deficit. And the root cause of these problems is increasing radicalization, extremism and terrorism," added Singh. The SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting is being held from June 25 to 26 in Qingdao, bringing together defence leaders from member states including India, China, Russia, and several Central Asian nations to discuss issues related to regional and international peace and security. At the SCO meeting, Rajnath Singh also welcomed Belarus, which joined the SCO family as a new member. The SCO, established in 2001, is an intergovernmental organisation aimed at promoting regional stability and security through cooperation and dialogue. India became a full member in 2017 and held the rotating Chairmanship in 2023. China has assumed the Chair for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.' (
