India hands over 187 Air India crash victims' remains to families

One week after the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s Minister of Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education, Rushikesh Patel, announced that DNA identification efforts had progressed significantly.

He stated that as of the morning of June 19, the DNA of 210 victims had been successfully matched with their families, and 187 sets of remains had already been returned. He added that the remaining mortal remains would be handed over soon.

Patel shared the update via a post on the social media platform X, Caliber.Az reports, citing Indian media.

Summary of Mortal Remains

UPDATED UP TO :- 19/06/2025 , 8:30 a.m.

NO. OF DNA MATCH - 210

NO. OF RELATIVES CONTACTED- 210

NO. OF MORTAL RELEASED- 187

Remaining Mortal remains will be handed over soon.

— Rushikesh Patel (@irushikeshpatel) June 19, 2025

While recovery efforts continued, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation responded with new regulatory measures aimed at enhancing air safety. On June 18, the ministry issued draft rules titled the Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions) Rules, 2025, which are expected to take effect once officially published in the Official Gazette.

These proposed regulations are designed to empower aviation authorities to take timely action against buildings and natural structures — such as trees — that exceed permissible height limits within designated aerodrome zones. Officials say such obstructions pose significant risks to flight safety, and the new rules are intended to prevent future accidents by allowing proactive mitigation.

According to the draft, if a structure is found to violate height restrictions, the officer in charge of the respective aerodrome may issue a formal notice to the property owner.

The owner will then be required to submit detailed data — including the structure’s dimensions and site plans—within 60 days. If the owner fails to comply, authorities may proceed with enforcement measures such as reducing the height of the structure or demolishing it altogether.

The urgency of these reforms has been amplified by the crash of the London-bound Boeing 787, which occurred on June 12. The aircraft struck a medical college hostel shortly after takeoff, crashing into a residential area of Ahmedabad. The accident claimed the lives of all 241 people on board, as well as at least 29 individuals on the ground. Remarkably, one passenger survived.

The aircraft involved in the crash was 12 years old. Although Boeing has faced scrutiny in recent years for safety concerns involving various aircraft models, aviation experts noted that this was the first fatal crash involving the 787 Dreamliner in its 16 years of operation. Approximately 1,200 of the aircraft are currently in use worldwide.

By Tamilla Hasanova