Indian officials say double-counted remains led to a revised death toll of 265 in the Air India Flight AI171 crash.
Indian authorities have recovered one of two black boxes from Air India Flight AI171, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick. The death toll has been revised downward to 265 after officials admitted that some remains were inadvertently double-counted. The current figure includes 241 people onboard and 24 on the ground. Authorities say the final toll remains provisional pending DNA tests.
The sole survivor, UK citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, described the terrifying moments before impact. “Everything happened in front of me… I couldn’t believe how I managed to come out alive,” he told reporters. Ramesh escaped through a damaged exit door despite suffering burns.
As investigations continue, officials are urging relatives to come forward for DNA swabs to aid identification. Most victims were found strapped in their seats. The government has ordered safety checks on all Air India Boeing 787s but has not grounded the fleet. Recovery efforts and investigations remain ongoing at the crash site.