Ahmedabad, June 19: Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik on Thursday confirmed that 222 victims of the Air India Flight 171 crash have been identified, with their bodies handed over to their families.
Addressing the media, Malik stated that 214 identifications were made through DNA analysis, while eight were confirmed without the need for DNA testing. “While police conduct their own investigation, technical aspects like black box analysis are being handled by other agencies and experts. The process is ongoing,” he said.
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of co-pilot Clive Kunder were brought to his home in Goregaon (West), Mumbai. Heart-wrenching visuals from the site showed mourners gathered outside as his grieving family stood by his portrait, paying their final respects. Kunder had lived with his parents.
The tragic incident occurred on June 12 when a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad's Meghani Nagar area shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Of the 242 people onboard, 241 lost their lives, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
In response to the disaster, the Ministry of Civil Aviation released a new draft regulation titled Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions) Rules, 2025 on June 18. The proposed rules aim to empower authorities to swiftly remove buildings or trees exceeding permitted height limits in aerodrome zones. Once notified in the Official Gazette, the rules are expected to strengthen safety measures and help prevent future tragedies caused by flight path obstructions.
