Families Prepare for Funerals After Deadly Plane Crash

Funerals were planned in Ahmedabad, India, on Sunday for the families mourning the loss of their loved ones. The deceased were among the at least 279 people who perished in the plane crash, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history.

Health officials began the process of returning the identified bodies to the families. The bodies, identified through DNA testing, were delivered in white coffins. The emotional weight of the situation was palpable.

The Air India jet, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff on Thursday. There was only one survivor. The crash also resulted in the deaths of at least 38 people on the ground.

Relatives were instructed not to open the coffins upon receiving them. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner burst into flames upon impact, destroying buildings used by medical staff.

DNA samples were being collected from grieving relatives to identify the passengers. By Sunday morning, 31 individuals had been identified. The process was described as meticulous and slow, requiring careful attention. Most of the injured on the ground had been released from the hospital, with only a few remaining in critical condition.