NEW DELHI, June 22, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - More than 250 people killed in an India 
plane crash have been identified through DNA testing, a hospital official 
said Sunday as specialists near a final toll for one of the worst air 
disasters in decades. 

All but one of the 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner were 
killed when the Air India plane smashed into a residential area of Ahmedabad, 
where at least 38 more died. 

Such was the level of destruction that more than two dozen believed killed 
remain unidentified 10 days after the jet came down.

"The results of the DNA sample matches for 251 have arrived," said Rakesh 
Joshi, medical superintendent at Ahmedabad's civil hospital. 

The remains of 245 of them have been handed to relatives and include 176 
Indians, 49 British, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 identified 
publicly only as non-passengers.

"In my opinion, the DNA matching process will soon be completed," Joshi said 
in a video message.

"We are with the remaining families who will be informed by phone as soon as 
possible," he added.

The remains of 26 victims were flown to their families, including 10 to the 
United Kingdom.

Air India said Thursday the plane was "well-maintained" and that the pilots 
were accomplished flyers.

Investigators have retrieved the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data 
recorder for analysis, as they attempt to find out what caused the London-
bound jet to hurtle to the ground moments after takeoff.