Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Air Hostess’s Body Found In Aircraft’s Tail, Black Box Decoding On

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Ashesh Mallick

Last Updated: June 14, 2025, 11:48 IST

The body of an air hostess has been recovered from the tail of the aircraft at the crash site in Ahmedabad, officials said on Saturday.

On June 12, the London Gatwick-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed soon after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, killing at least 241 people on board, and several others on the ground. (CNN-News18)

Days after 241 people on board the ill-fated Air India flight 171, travelling from Ahmedabad to London, died in the plane crash, the body of an air hostess was recovered from the tail of the aircraft by the NSG, officials said on Saturday.

The NSG sources said that the forces were conducting an investigation as part of their charter. “While doing so, NSG discovered the body as it was in an inaccessible part of the plane,” sources said.

Recommended Stories

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau officials said, “Today is day 2 of the probe. We are carrying out our investigation. The Civil Aviation Ministry will apprise you of progress.”

The officials have also recovered the black box from the wreckage in the city.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft crashed into the hostel mess building near the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad on Thursday, 33 seconds after takeoff – the horrific videos of which surfaced online. There was merely a lone survivor in the fatal incident.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Ahmedabad Plane Crash Top Points

The NSG, forensic teams are among those at work at the crash site.

At least 274 people were reported dead in the fatal plane crash. This death toll includes casualties of the passengers, crew members, and local residents. 4 MBBS students have been confirmed dead so far, while 11 out of the 20 injured have been discharged.

The government will hold a press conference today to give further details about the crash. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who visited and inspected the crash site, will address the mediapersons.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered stricter safety checks for all of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. This move is meant to prevent any repeat of what is now considered one of the deadliest air accidents in India’s recent history.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has begun decoding the data from the recovered black box with full force, Naidu said. The black box comprises the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), and was recovered from the rooftop near the wreckage. The black box will help investigators find out what caused the Ahmedabad plane crash, whether it was due to a technical problem or human error. It contains detailed data like engine settings, flight altitude, pilot controls, and conversations in the cockpit.

The government has set up a high-level committee, led by the Union Home Secretary, to examine the causes that resulted in the crash of the Air India plane. The committee will also suggest comprehensive guidelines to prevent any such incidents in the future. The committee will not be an alternative to other inquiries being conducted by relevant organisations, the civil aviation ministry said.

Air India’s Board has convened an urgent meeting to review the incident and chart a course forward, sources told CNN-News18. The Chairman and CEO of Air India updated the Board on the early findings and the progress of ongoing investigations. According to sources, the Board’s first response was to order a thorough internal audit to check the condition of the aircraft and review maintenance practices across the entire fleet.

About the Author Arunima Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero … Read More Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero … Read More

First Published: June 14, 2025, 11:19 IST

✕ Close The Independent reports from Ahmedabad hospital after Air India plane disaster

On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

British investigators have arrived in India to assist with the probe into the Air India plane crash as Indian teams recovered a second black box from the wreckage and continued combing the debris for evidence.

The flight data recorder was found just hours after the first black box was discovered.

All passengers but one on the flight to the UK died – 241 out of 242 – when it crashed in a huge fireball moments after take-off in India’s western city of Ahmedabad.

The Indian government is considering temporarily grounding Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet, broadcaster NDTV reported.

Investigators include anti-terror squads, a source said.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, from Leicester, the sole survivor, who was sitting in seat 11A, told the Hindustan Times: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”

Air India said the passengers included 169 Indian, 53 British, one Canadian and seven Portuguese citizens.

Families in India with concerns can call Air India on 1800 5691 444. Those outside India can call the British Foreign Office on 020 7008 5000.

22:30 (IST) Jun 13

In an echoing hall in India’s Ahmedabad, mourning families gave DNA samples on Friday to identify relatives missing after a London-bound passenger jet crashed in a residential area.

At least 265 people on board and on the ground were killed when the Air India 787-8 Dreamliner smashed into a residential area soon after takeoff on Thursday. Just one passenger miraculously survived the giant fireball.

Ashfaque Nanabawa, 40, said he had come to find his cousin Akeel Nanabawa, who had been onboard with his wife and three-year-old daughter.

He said they had spoken as his cousin sat in the plane just before takeoff.

“He called us and he said: ‘I am in the plane and I have boarded safely and everything was okay’. That was his last call.”

Nanabawa, speaking in the early hours of Friday morning, said he and his family had given DNA samples, but were yet to “identify any of the bodies”.

– ‘Heartbreaking’ –

Indian police said at least 265 bodies had been recovered from the smouldering crash site — both from the wreckage of the plane and the medical staff accommodation into which the burning jet crashed.

The toll may rise further as more bodies are located.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words”.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the crash site and those injured in hospital on Thursday evening, said forensic laboratories would “complete the DNA testing in the shortest possible time”.

Shah said the final official toll would “be declared only after DNA testing is completed”.

On a raised platform, a dozen exhausted doctors worked to collect samples for the grim task of trying to identify bodies.

“We have taken samples of babies and those above 80 years old. I don’t have words to explain this,” said a doctor, on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Air India said there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian on board the flight bound for London’s Gatwick airport, as well as 12 crew members, making 242 onboard.

Only one is confirmed to have survived, a British national.

At least 24 people also died on the ground when the jet hit residential buildings.

“As doctors, you’re always prepared for the worst right?” the medic added.

“But this is just overwhelming. Families are crying, looking for answers.”

Above, the sounds of planes echoed, with the hall close to another airport.

“One person came to give the sample… his child, wife and mother were on the flight”, the doctor added. “What do I even say?”

One woman, too grief-stricken to give her name, said her son-in-law had been killed.

“My daughter doesn’t know that he’s no more”, she said, wiping away tears.

“I can’t break the news to her, can someone else do that please?”

Ahmedabad Plane Crash Live Updates: At least 274 people were killed in one of India’s deadliest plane crashes involving a London-bound Air India flight in Ahmedabad earlier this week, sources said on Saturday.

The casualties, the sources added, include the passengers and crew on board AI 171, and local residents on ground.

The developments came as a high-level multi-disciplinary committee, headed by the Union home secretary, has been formed to examine the causes that led to the crash on Thursday, and suggest comprehensive guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future.

On Thursday, AI 171 – belonging to Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 fleet – crashed seconds after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Officials said the aircraft lost altitude soon after taking off at around 1.30pm. It crashed into the residential quarters of BJ Medical College before going up in flames, sending plumes of thick black smoke spiralling up in the air.

The pilot had issued a ‘Mayday’ distress call, denoting a full emergency, soon after takeoff, the Air Traffic Control at Ahmedabad said.

Helpline numbers: 011-24610843 | 9650391859 | 1800 5691 444 (Air India)

Here are the latest updates on Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash:

AHMEDABAD, India – June 14: Investigators have recovered both black boxes from the devastating Air India crash that killed 241 people onboard and several others on the ground, offering hope of swift answers in India’s worst aviation tragedy in over three decades.

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, slamming into a medical college hostel and erupting into flames. Wreckage from the plane, including flap components and landing gear, was scattered across roads near the crash zone.

What the Black Boxes Could Reveal

The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were retrieved from the roof of a hostel near the crash site. Both are now in the custody of India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which has launched a full-scale probe alongside teams from Boeing and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Experts say these devices will provide critical clues — from engine thrust and flap settings to cockpit communication in the final seconds before impact.

“This should show quickly if there was a loss of lift or engine power after takeoff,” said Paul Fromme, a senior aerospace engineer in the UK. “It will help determine if the aircraft was configured incorrectly during takeoff.”

Early Findings: Was the Plane Improperly Configured?

Preliminary information suggests the aircraft may have suffered from configuration errors during takeoff. The trailing edge flaps — essential for lift — may not have been set correctly, and the landing gear remained extended during ascent.

“There’s already concern that the takeoff settings may have been miscalculated,” said aviation safety analyst Jeff Guzzetti. “All of these inputs — weight, thrust, flap position — are recorded, and we’ll know more very soon.”

Sources familiar with the probe told Reuters that incorrect input of takeoff weight and environmental conditions may have led to insufficient lift, despite the engines being operational. Investigators are now focused on whether the flight crew made fatal setup mistakes or if mechanical failures played a role.

DGCA Orders Safety Checks on All Air India Dreamliners

In response to the crash, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered immediate inspections of all Air India Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft fitted with General Electric’s GEnx engines.

The inspections will target key systems — including fuel flow, hydraulic performance, engine control units, and cabin air compressors — to rule out systemic issues within the fleet.

Charred Wreckage, Lost Lives, and a Lone Survivor

The crash has left behind a trail of destruction and heartbreak. Charred bodies — many of them students from the hostel — are being identified via DNA testing. Officials have confirmed at least five deaths on the ground and around 50 injuries, though more casualties are feared as recovery continues.

Miraculously, one passenger survived the crash and was visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed deep sorrow. “The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words,” Modi wrote on social media.

Global Implications and Ongoing Investigation

The crash has rattled global aviation regulators. Boeing, which manufactures the 787 Dreamliner, is under intense scrutiny amid ongoing quality control issues in its commercial aircraft division.

Parts of the plane’s GEnx engines are being shipped to the US for detailed analysis. Meanwhile, investigators are reconstructing the wreckage in a secure facility to analyze structural damage and systems failure.

Aviation consultant John M. Cox believes the images showing the aircraft nose rising but failing to gain altitude indicate a serious lift issue. “It doesn’t appear the trailing edge flaps were where they should have been,” he said, though he cautioned that video footage alone isn’t conclusive.

What Happens Next?

Investigators are working rapidly to analyze the black boxes, with preliminary findings expected within days. Experts believe the combination of data from the recorders and physical evidence could yield answers quickly.

“This won’t be solved overnight, but some factual questions — flap positions, thrust settings, and alarms — will likely be answered within a week,” said Guzzetti.

For now, the aviation world waits as one of India’s worst air disasters in recent memory unfolds — with critical safety and accountability questions looming.