Ahmedabad: City police commissioner G. S. Malik on Thursday said that over 318 DNA samples have been analysed and more than 100 damaged mobile phones recovered from the wreckage of the crashed Air India Dreamliner.

He added that the investigation into the cause of the tragic crash of AI 171, which resulted in 241 deaths out of 242 people on board, is still ongoing. Sharing updates on the June 12 incident, Malik said that 222 victims have been identified so far. Of these, 214 were identified through DNA testing and 8 through visual means or personal belongings.

“More than 318 biological samples were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar,” Malik said, adding that the final death toll is expected to be confirmed in the next two to three days, once the process of matching body parts to individuals is complete.

Investigators also retrieved over 100 mobile phones from the debris, many of them severely burnt or damaged. These are now being examined by forensic experts to recover any audio, video, or images that might offer clues about the moments leading up to the crash.

The technical investigation is being led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with support from Boeing engineers. Key parts of the aircraft are being relocated and reassembled at a secure location for detailed analysis to detect any possible mechanical failure, structural issues, or signs of an explosion. The aircraft’s black box and flight data recorder are also under scrutiny and are expected to play a crucial role in determining the cause. So far, no evidence of foul play has been found. DeshGujarat