Air India Crash: 125 DNA Matches Confirm Identities, Bodies Returned to Families

Gujarat’s Home Minister, Harsh Sanghavi, confirmed that DNA samples from 125 individuals involved in the Air India plane crash have been successfully matched. Families of 124 victims have been contacted, and the remains of 83 have been returned. Sanghavi visited the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, where the identification process is being carried out. The FSL and National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) are jointly conducting the DNA testing. Sanghavi praised the teams working diligently. By late evening, 131 DNA matches had been finalized, with further certificates scheduled for the Civil Hospital. Senior police and FSL officials have been monitoring the progress. Teams worked around the clock for three days to ensure efficient matching of samples and the return of remains. The Gujarat government and Civil Hospital have been coordinating to keep families informed. Dr. Rakesh Joshi of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital noted that 119 identifications have been completed, with an additional 14 expected the following morning. The tragic crash of the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner occurred shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, resulting in 241 fatalities, among them former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.