Ahmedabad plane crash: 247 victims identified through DNA tests; 232 bodies given to kin as of June 21

A total of 247 victims of the horrific June 12 Ahmedabad plane crash have been identified through DNA tests so far and 232 bodies have been handed over to their families, officials said on Saturday (June 21, 2025).

The authorities have asked the families of eight victims to submit the DNA samples of another relative, as the previous ones failed to match, they said.

Police said the matching of DNA samples confirmed that Ahmedabad-based filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala, who was reported missing following the crash, died in the catastrophe. His mortal remains were handed over to his family.

In Maharashtra, relatives and friends gave an emotional farewell to Deepak Pathak and Irfan Shaikh — two crew members of the ill-fated flight — at Badlapur in Thane district and in Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune city respectively.

The London-bound aircraft crashed into a hostel complex in Meghaninagar moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.39 p.m. that day, killing 270 persons, including 241 on board. One passenger survived.

Authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims as many bodies were charred beyond recognition as the aircraft burst into flames or damaged on impact.

“Till Saturday evening, 247 DNA samples have matched. Relatives of these deceased were contacted. So far, mortal remains of 232 victims have been handed over to families. The process is continuing,” Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Rakesh Joshi said.

The 247 victims who have been identified comprise 187 Indians, 52 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and a Canadian, he said. Of the 187 Indians, a total of 175 were on board the ill-fated aircraft, he said, adding they belong to areas in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Diu and Nagaland.

The state government had earlier stated that samples of 250 victims, including persons on board the ill-fated flight as well as those killed on the ground, were collected for identification.

The families of eight victims have been asked to give a sample of another relative for DNA tests after the first one did not match, Dr. Joshi said.

“Unless there is a match, bodies cannot be handed over to the kin. When there is no match for a longer period of time, then you can ask for another sample from another relative. If one sibling has given the sample, then a sample of another sibling is sought for matching the DNA with that of the victim,” he said.

“We generally prefer a sample of father or son/daughter. If not, then we take a sample of another available member,” Dr. Joshi added.