New Delhi – The tragic plane crash that occurred in Ahmedabad has now claimed 270 lives, according to official reports released on Saturday. Among the deceased, 21 bodies were recovered from the vicinity of a medical college hostel, with nine confirmed to be hostel residents. Authorities also confirmed that out of 32 injured individuals receiving treatment, 16 were students, and 12 of them have been discharged.

One of the survivors under treatment is Ramesh Vishwas Kumar, who was aboard the ill-fated flight. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers, two pilots, and 10 crew members—making up a total of 242 individuals. The deceased include passengers, airline staff, local residents, and people from nearby buildings.

Reports also confirm that ten doctors and their families residing in the BJ Medical College residential quarters were among the dead. The search for those still missing continues under the leadership of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

In response to the incident, India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, has announced a comprehensive investigation into the crash. The inquiry will include aviation safety experts and is expected to be completed within three months. The minister emphasized that DNA testing will be conducted before handing over bodies to the relatives and that no compromises will be made on safety standards.

Gujarat’s Home Minister, Harsh Sanghvi, reviewed the progress of DNA profiling, which is being carried out at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar.

So far, it is estimated that all 241 individuals on the plane and 38 people from the building and nearby areas have died in the crash.

In response to the recent aircraft incident in Ahmedabad, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated enhanced safety inspections for all Boeing 787 aircraft operating in India. The decision follows the preliminary findings of an ongoing investigation, which has so far ruled out both bird strikes and pilot error as contributing factors in the event.

Initial analysis suggests that there was no evidence of a bird collision or the presence of bird remains near the affected aircraft. Additionally, the aircraft was not overloaded, and the cockpit crew’s actions prior to the incident were found to be in line with standard operating procedures.

Despite these findings, both engines of the aircraft reportedly failed shortly after takeoff—an extremely rare occurrence in aviation. As a precautionary measure, the DGCA has required that all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 series aircraft undergo mandatory inspections in accordance with updated safety protocols. Operators must submit detailed inspection reports to the DGCA, and flights will only be permitted to operate upon satisfactory clearance.

The aircraft’s black box has been sent to a forensic science laboratory for thorough analysis. The data from the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder is expected to provide further insights into the sequence of events that led to the failure.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the inquiry with support from international experts, including teams from the United Kingdom and the United States. Their involvement is expected to bolster the technical and forensic aspects of the investigation, which remains ongoing.

Authorities have stated that a conclusive determination of the cause can only be made after all technical data, including black box analysis and aircraft debris assessment, has been fully reviewed.

The preliminary report from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regarding the recent plane crash in Ahmedabad has been released. The incident, which shook the nation, is now confirmed to have not been caused by a bird strike or pilot error. Investigators found no evidence of bird remains or any impact. Moreover, the aircraft was not overloaded, as several seats were found unoccupied.

Analysis of the cockpit crew’s actions prior to the incident showed that they followed standard operating procedures. This has ruled out human error on the part of the pilots. The simultaneous failure of both engines was deemed highly unusual, and at present, sabotage is not being considered a likely cause.

Although over 1,200 aircraft of the same Boeing 787 Dreamliner model have been operating globally for more than 12 years, this marks the first major accident involving this model, which has attracted significant international attention.

Authorities including the DGCA, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and Boeing are jointly investigating the incident. The aircraft’s debris, black box recordings, flight data, and air traffic control logs are undergoing extensive technical and forensic evaluation. Final conclusions will only be drawn after the full investigation is completed.

In a major reform move, Indian Railways will mandate Aadhaar-based authentication for Tatkal ticket booking from July 1. The changes aim to curb irregularities by booking agents and ensure that the Tatkal scheme benefits regular passengers.

From July 1, only Aadhaar-verified users will be able to book Tatkal tickets via the IRCTC website or mobile app. Additionally, starting July 15, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will become compulsory for all bookings — including those made at PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters and through authorized agents.

As per the updated policy, authorized ticketing agents will be barred from booking Tatkal tickets within the first 30 minutes after bookings open. For AC classes, agents won’t be able to book between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., while for non-AC classes, bookings will be restricted from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.