NEW DELHI / SAN FRANCISCO - The Indian government has launched a formal investigation into Thursday's tragic Air India plane crash, the country's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed it in a social media post.
According to the latest media reports, a total of 265 dead bodies had already been brought to a local government hospital in Ahmedabad city, where the plane crash had taken place.
ALSO READ: Media: One survivor found in India plane crash
Among the dead were 241 people onboard the ill-fated Boeing aircraft, while the rest of the casualties took place on the ground.
The formal probe was initiated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, in line with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, announced the federal minister.
"The committee will work to strengthen aviation safety and prevent such incidents in the future," posted the minister on X.
A black box found
Aviation authorities have found one of the two black boxes of the Air India flight that crashed in the western Indian state of Gujarat, killing 241 on board, according to local newspaper Hindustan Times.
"Of the two black boxes, the one in the rear of the aircraft has been located and safely guarded. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will collect the equipment to analyze the recordings. The second black box, in the aircraft's front portion, is yet to be found," the report said quoting a source.
Black boxes are electronic data recorders in the aircraft. The bright orange or yellow rectangular boxes are designed to withstand high-speed crashes, explosions, fire and water pressure.
Former Gujarat chief minister killed
A minister in the Indian government has confirmed the killing of former Gujarat chief minister and a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vijay Rupani in Thursday's London-bound Air India flight crash in the western state.
This seems to be the first official confirmation of the death in the Air India flight with 242 people on board that crashed immediately after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
"Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going to meet his family. He is also a victim in this incident. This is a big loss for the BJP," C R Patil, India's federal water resources minister told reporters.
The 68-year-old Rupani was the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat and served the state from August 2016 to September 2021.
'Worst-ever tragedy this year'
Meanwhile, the country's civil aviation authorities were expected to take a few days before announcing the final death toll in this year's worst-ever tragedy in India, as DNA tests were to be conducted to identify the victims.
Air India posted on its social media that the sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.
The flight had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian, apart from two pilots and 10 cabin crew members on board when it crashed at the premises of a medical college.
"We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital," Air India said in a statement. "The survivor is a British national of Indian origin."
The airline said it offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and was giving full cooperation to the authorities in the investigation of the crash.
The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft bearing number AI171 immediately after takeoff went down at an altitude of 825 feet and crashed on the premises of B J Medical College, causing severe damage to the buildings.
A video of the aircraft flying low and struggling to gain altitude shows the plane going down and exploding in a massive ball of fire. Parts of the plane were scattered all around the premises.
According to the Federation of All India Medical Associations Doctors Association, one person was killed, while at least five medical students and four relatives of resident doctors are reported missing, besides 50 others injured at the premises of B J Medical College.
Indian multinational conglomerate -- Tata Group, which owns Air India, said it will give a compensation of 10 million rupees ($116,854) to the families of each person who was killed in the plane crash.
Boeing says to support
Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg on Thursday said a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau regarding a Boeing 787 crash.
"I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau," Ortberg said in a statement after the Air India Flight 171 crash."We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected," said the company in the statement.
"Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad," Ortberg noted.
Boeing will defer to India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to provide information about Air India Flight 171, in adherence with the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) protocol known as Annex 13, according to Ortberg.
