Death toll in Air India crash rises to 274

ISTANBUL

The death toll from the Air India Flight 171 crash rose to 274 on Saturday after salvage teams discovered more bodies in the wreckage of a medical college hostel in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad.

The crash occurred Thursday when the aircraft struck the hostel complex shortly before landing. According to the Times of India, search crews recovered additional remains while retrieving the aircraft’s black box, which was found on the rooftop of one of the buildings.

Air India had initially confirmed the deaths of 241 of the 242 people on board. Of the current total, 33 of the deceased are believed to be students and residents on the ground.

Only one passenger survived the crash after jumping from the aircraft before impact.

India’s civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, said Saturday that a high-level investigation committee had been formed and given three months to complete its inquiry. The probe will include recommendations for new standard operating procedures to prevent similar incidents, the ministry said on X.

The investigation is examining several possible causes, including technical failure, airline negligence and the possibility of a bird strike, according to Indian media reports.

Passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens and one Canadian.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the crash site on Thursday, said the final death toll would be confirmed after DNA testing is completed.

Air India’s parent company Tata has pledged 10 million Indian rupees ($115,937) in compensation for each victim, both passengers and those killed on the ground. The company also said it would cover medical expenses for the injured and support rebuilding efforts at the hostel.