Police file accidental death case in plane crash incident

Based on probe results, an FIR will be registered: Officials

Ahmedabad: First Information of accident: Extraordinary Death case Number UD/0019/2025- this is the heading of the accidental death case registered at the Meghaninagar police station in connection with the Air India's AI-171 plane crash that killed 241 passengers and the crew as well as many people on the ground.

This is not an FIR but registration of the incident in the station diary which can be converted into an FIR based on the outcome of investigation. This is done under section 194 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The section mandates police to inform the magistrate immediately to conduct inquest panchnama in cases of accidental deaths such as suicide, unnatural death or suspicious deaths. Such cases are referred to as AD (accidental death) by police.

It is reported that a total of 270 persons have died in the accident that includes 241 people in the plane and the rest were killed at the hostel blocks of BJ Medical College and surrounding areas. These victims include four MBBS students, four family members of residential doctors, tea-sellers family members, members of those families who used to run tiffin services for the MBBS students, among others.

The police report begins with a heading, "UD (unidentified death) Status Report" and mentions chronological details of the accident right from the first message the police station received from the Ahmedabad city police control room. It states the date and time of accident as 12/06/2025 and 13:44 respectively.

"Today, dated 12/06/2025 at 13/44 Meghaninagar police station van and PCR van received a message from Ahmedabad city police control room, saying that there was a fire at the old IGP compound. The messenger didn't mention his (her) name. In this regard, an entry was made in the station diary no-15/25, dated 12/06/2025 at 13/55 and I along with the staff reached the accident site," states the report signed by D B Basiya, senior police inspector Meghaninagar.

It says that "a plane carrying passengers was found to have crashed into the residential flats of doctors opposite Rakshashakti University (old campus), located at the IGP compound, and flames were seen coming out. Following which the fire brigade, ambulance and police were immediately informed."

It states that necessary arrangements were made immediately at the scene. "Meanwhile, the fire brigade reached the spot and the fire tenders were used to extinguish the fire. It was found that the passengers and pilot on board the plane were killed and the plane caught fire due to the crash...therefore most of the dead were burnt and the bodies were unidentifiable," the record states.

The bodies were immediately sent to the civil hospital in ambulances and similarly injured and deceased people found at the doctors' flats were also rushed to the civil hospital.

"...the flight crashed into the old IGP compound in Meghaninagar due to some unknown reason and the passengers on board as well as the pilot and crew members and the citizens of the residential area around the place also died. The inquest panchnama of the deceased has been prepared. Therefore, an entry has been made in the station diary in this regard as a case of accidental death for further investigation," the report said.

The investigation has been handed over to Naroda police station inspector PV Gohil. He was not available for comments. Police officials said that this is a routine procedure which has been followed and based on the result of the investigation being conducted by the union government agencies, it could be converted into an FIR or the case could be closed.

Teams of the national investigation agency, aircraft accident investigation bureau, under the ministry of civil aviation, have started the investigation into the crash.