The death toll from Thursday’s devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, has climbed to 279, according to a senior police official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
This updated figure surpasses the earlier count of 265 and places the tragedy among the deadliest aviation disasters of the 21st century.
The Air India flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 people. Only one passenger is confirmed to have survived.
An additional 38 fatalities occurred on the ground after the aircraft plowed into a densely populated residential area shortly after takeoff.
Authorities say the final death toll is pending due to the ongoing process of DNA identification.
Air India confirmed that the passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, one Canadian, and 12 crew members.
According to preliminary reports, the aircraft had barely climbed to 100 metres (330 feet) before issuing a mayday call and crashing around midday.
On Friday, investigators recovered one of the plane’s black box flight recorders.
Search teams are continuing efforts to locate the second recorder, which could provide critical insights into the cause of the crash.
Boeing, the U.S.-based manufacturer of the aircraft, said it is in contact with Air India and has offered technical assistance.
A source close to the investigation noted that this incident marks the first known crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.