Air India Crash Death Toll Rises to 274... Black Box Recovered

by Woo Sooyoun

Published 14 Jun.2025 13:20(KST)

The Times of India reported on June 14 that the death toll from the Air India plane crash has surpassed 270.

The number of fatalities from the Air India crash that occurred on June 12 has now reached 274. Considering that 241 of the deceased were on board the crashed aircraft, 33 people died on the ground as a result of the crash.

The Times of India stated that many of the ground fatalities appear to have been students residing in the dormitories of the National B.J. Medical College, where the aircraft crashed.

Indian investigators discovered the aircraft's black box on the roof of a building near the crash site the previous day. However, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) has not yet been found.

Wreckage of Air India Flight 171 that crashed in a residential area near Ahmedabad Airport, India, on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News

Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Indian authorities and Air India are investigating several factors, including engine thrust issues, flap (high-lift device) setting errors, and the reason why the landing gear did not retract during takeoff. They are also examining whether Air India was responsible for maintenance.

Additionally, an investigation team composed of counterterrorism experts has been deployed to the site, and the possibility of a bird strike has been ruled out as a cause.

At approximately 1:38 p.m. on June 12, Air India Flight AI171, which departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad for London, United Kingdom, crashed just 30 seconds after takeoff.

Of the 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 pilots and crew members, 241 died in the accident, with only one passenger miraculously surviving.