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CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Death toll in Indian plane crash climbs to 270 as search teams find more bodies
Ayub sheikh gestures angrily as he waits for the bodies of four relatives who died in the Air India plane crash, at a hospital in Ahmedabad, India, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) AHMEDABAD, India — Search and recovery teams continued scouring the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters for a third day after the Air India flight fell from the sky and killed at least 270 people in Gujarat state, officials said Saturday. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. One passenger survived. Recovery teams working until late Friday found at least 25 more bodies in the debris, officials said. Dr. Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad told The Associated Press the facility had received 270 bodies, adding that the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. 'He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,' Gameti said Saturday. Hundreds of relatives of the crash victims have provided DNA samples at the hospital. Most bodies were charred or mutilated, making them unrecognizable. Some relatives expressed frustration Saturday that the process was taking too long. Authorities say it normally takes up to 72 hours to complete DNA matching and they are expediting the process. 'Where are my children? Did you recover them?' asked Rafiq Abdullah, whose nephew, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren were on the flight. 'I will have to ask questions. Government is not answering these questions.' Another relative persistently asked hospital staff when his relative's body would be handed over to the family for last rites. 'Give us the body,' the relative insisted. Alongside the formal investigation, the Indian government says it has formed a high-level, multi-disciplinary committee to examine the causes leading to the crash. The committee will focus on formulating procedures to prevent and handle aircraft emergencies in the future and 'will not be a substitute to other enquiries being conducted by relevant organisations,' the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement. Investigators on Friday recovered the plane's digital flight data recorder, or the black box, which was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and likely will lead to clues about the cause of the accident. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had started working with 'full force' to extract the data. The device is expected to reveal information about the engine and control settings, while the voice recorder will provide cockpit conversations, said Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the U.K.-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, a former crash investigator for both the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, said investigators should be able to answer some important questions about what caused the crash as soon as next week as long as the flight data recorder is in good shape. Investigators likely are looking at whether wing flaps were set correctly, the engine lost power, alarms were going off inside the cockpit and if the plane's crew correctly logged information about the hot temperature outside and the weight of the fuel and passengers, Guzzetti said. Mistakes in the data could result in the wing flaps being set incorrectly, he said. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. There are currently around 1,200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation, according to experts. Hussain reported from Srinagar, India. Aijaz Hussain, Piyush Nagpal And Shonal Ganguly, The Associated Press
Khaleej Times
12-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Directors' Institute launches exclusive UAE webinar series for corporate leaders
Responding to the growing demand from the UAE's corporate sector, the Directors' Institute - World Council of Directors, an initiative by the World Development Corporation, has launched a proprietary webinar series aimed at elevating local directors and aspiring board members to international standards. The initiative comes amid the UAE's sustained economic growth and rising foreign investment. "With the UAE's expanding economy attracting numerous international corporations, there is a pressing need for directors who understand global board dynamics," said Heval Mehta, managing director at Directors' Institute. "Our specialised programmes, including the International Corporate Directorship Programme and the Doctorate in International Corporate Directorship, are tailored to meet this evolving demand." Recognised globally for its expertise in director training, corporate governance, and ESG, Directors' Institute has received recognition from Forbes and has been honoured at both the Australian and British Parliaments. The institute has collaborated with numerous embassies on corporate governance frameworks and has contributed to UNESCO's policy formation. Exclusive webinars for UAE business leaders The newly launched webinars are designed specifically for senior executives, entrepreneurs, board members, aspiring corporate directors, and country managers with organisational licences in the UAE. This initiative is supported by an AI-driven platform that serves as one of the most sought-after repositories for corporations seeking to appoint directors and C-suite executives. "Currently, is utilised by over 1,000 companies and more than 100 executive search firms. We plan to expand that reach to 5,500 firms by the end of 2027," said Ayub Sheikh, managing director - Technology & Innovation and COO, World Development Corporation. Directors' Institute operates as an exclusive community for corporate leaders. The platform has achieved significant milestones, including the training and certification of over 2,000 international corporate directors and the appointment of more than 500 senior executives to global boards and leadership roles. Corporate Governance & ESG Summit 2025 Directors' Institute - World Council of Directors recently hosted the largest corporate governance and ESG summit of 2025, which brought together more than 1,000 C-suite executives, ambassadors from over 15 countries, ministers, government officials, corporate leaders, and members of the United Nations. The event honoured corporate giants leading in governance and recognised 55+ board directors for their excellence in serving on corporate boards after completing their certification as International Directors or Independent Directors. Additionally, more than 250 corporate leaders were awarded the titles of Certified International Corporate Director and Certified Independent Director. "This initiative presents a remarkable opportunity for business leaders in the UAE to join a prestigious global network of corporate directors, enhance their skills on an international scale, and stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of leadership," said Zeeshaan Pathan, group managing director and CEO of World Development Corporation. "Our track record in shaping international board members highlights the transformative potential of these webinars."
