Officials from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) surveyed the site of the Air India plane crash that claimed at least 271 lives, sources confirmed on Sunday. Families continue to await DNA profiling results for the identification of charred remains.
Alongside the NTSB, officials from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were present in Ahmedabad, in western India’s Gujarat state, surveying the crash site, according to one source with direct knowledge of the situation.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people and bound for Gatwick Airport south of London, began losing altitude mere seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday. It subsequently erupted into a massive fireball upon impact with buildings below. All but one person on board were declared dead in what is the world’s worst aviation disaster in a decade. Approximately 30 individuals on the ground also perished.
Air India and the Indian government are currently examining several aspects of the crash, including issues related to its engine thrust, flaps, and why the landing gear remained extended during takeoff and subsequent descent.
Sean Duffy, the Secretary of the US Department of Transport, stated on Friday that he was in the process of deploying a team from the FAA and the NTSB to India. Boeing and GE, the manufacturer of the aircraft’s engines, are also sending their respective teams.
“We’ll take action should any recommendations come forward from the NTSB’s investigation,” Duffy affirmed.
The FAA and NTSB did not immediately respond to Reuters’ inquiries outside regular business hours. The FAA has clarified that India will lead the investigation, with the NTSB serving as the official US representative for providing assistance, while the FAA offers technical support. Boeing officials will also scrutinize various parameters during their inspections, including the angle of landing, as they investigate the incident, the first source added.
In total, approximately 10 officials, including those from the NTSB, were present at the site on Sunday, according to the second source. India’s aviation regulator has mandated inspections for all Boeing 787s operated by local carriers.
This tragic crash presents a new challenge for both Air India, which has been endeavoring to modernize its fleet for years, and Boeing, currently striving to rebuild public trust following a series of safety and production crises.
In Ahmedabad, doctors are facing difficulties in identifying bodies severely charred in the incident, resorting to dental samples and DNA profiling. Rajnish Patel, additional superintendent at the city’s main hospital, stated on Sunday that DNA samples of 32 victims from the crash have been successfully matched. “The bodies for which DNA samples have been matched are being handed over to the families with due respect,” he confirmed.
