Plane crash in India: Death toll rises to 310

The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger plane with 242 people on board (230 passengers and 12 crew members) crashed into a dormitory for medical students in the Indian state of Gujarat. According to The New Indian Express, the total death toll has reached 310.

Initially, the police said that all passengers on the plane had died. Later, the only survivor was found — 40-year-old British citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who told that 30 seconds after takeoff he heard a loud sound, and then the plane began to fall.

This is the first crash of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 13 years of operation of this model. Air India had been using the plane since January 2014.

The search for the bodies of the victims in Ahmedabad has almost finished.

Indian Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah said he visited the Air India plane crash site in Ahmedabad, ANI reports. According to the Minister, the authorities will announce how many people died in the plane crash after DNA tests.

«The recovery of the bodies of the deceased is almost complete. DNA samples of family members have been taken. Family members living abroad have also been informed. About 1,000 DNA tests will be conducted,» he said.

Amit Shah added that the plane was carrying almost 125,000 liters of fuel, «and due to the high temperature, it was impossible to save anyone.»

According to Reuters, at least 290 people died in the plane crash. The New Indian Express newspaper reported the death of more than 310 people.

The aircraft was operating flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London. The crew sent a distress signal almost immediately after takeoff. The Boeing crashed into residential buildings. There were 242 people on board, including 169 Indian citizens, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian citizen.