US Officials Examine Air India Crash Scene as Families Await Updates

AHMEDABAD: On Sunday, U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials arrived at the site of the Air India crash that claimed the lives of at least 271 people. Families are anxiously awaiting DNA test results to identify the charred remains of their loved ones.

Alongside NTSB representatives, officials from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were on hand in Ahmedabad, located in Gujarat state in western India, as part of the investigation.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people and headed to Gatwick Airport near London, started to descend shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday. The aircraft exploded in a massive fireball upon impacting nearby buildings, marking it as one of the worst air disasters in the past decade. Only one person on board survived.

Approximately 30 additional fatalities were reported on the ground.

Air India and the Indian government are examining various factors related to the crash, focusing on issues concerning engine thrust, flaps, and the malfunctioning landing gear that remained deployed during takeoff.

Sean Duffy, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, announced on Friday that a team from both the FAA and NTSB would be sent to India. Boeing and GE, the manufacturer of the aircraft’s engines, are also dispatching teams to assist in the investigation.

“We will take appropriate action based on any recommendations from the NTSB’s investigation,” Duffy stated.

The FAA clarified that while India will lead the inquiry, the NTSB will act as the official U.S. representative, providing assistance, and the FAA will supply technical support.

Boeing officials will also investigate a number of elements, including the aircraft’s landing angles.

Over the weekend, around 10 officials, including those from the NTSB, reported to the crash site.

India’s aviation regulator has mandated that all Boeing 787s operated by local carriers undergo inspections.

This tragic accident poses renewed challenges for Air India, which has been working to revamp its fleet, as well as for Boeing, which aims to restore public confidence after a series of safety and production issues.

In Ahmedabad, medical teams are battling to identify the charred bodies, relying on dental records and DNA profiling. So far, DNA matches for 32 victims have been confirmed, according to Rajnish Patel, additional superintendent at the primary hospital in the city.

“The identified remains are being returned to their families with the utmost respect,” he added.