The death toll from the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, has risen to 279, according to a senior police source who spoke to reporters on Saturday under condition of anonymity.
The new figure, up from the previously reported 265, makes the crash one of the deadliest air disasters of the 21st century.
The Air India-operated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was on its way to London’s Gatwick Airport with 242 people on board when it crashed into a densely populated residential area shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon.
Tragically, only one person on board survived. Authorities also confirmed that at least 38 residents on the ground were killed when the aircraft plunged into homes near the airport.
Efforts to confirm the final casualty figure are ongoing, as officials continue with the painstaking process of DNA identification to match bodies with victims.
According to Air India, the flight was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, along with 12 crew members.
The aircraft reportedly issued a mayday call moments after lifting barely 100 metres above the runway, before losing control and crashing.
Investigators recovered one of the black box recorders from the crash site on Friday. Forensic teams are still searching for the second recorder to aid the investigation.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has expressed its readiness to support Air India in the probe, noting that this incident marks the first crash involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner model.
Rescue operations and investigation efforts are still ongoing as the global aviation community closely watches developments.
