The death toll from the Indian passenger plane crash rises to 279.

The death toll from the crash of an Air India plane after taking off two days ago from Ahmedabad airport in northwest India bound for London has risen to 279.

Agence France-Presse quoted a source in the Indian police as saying today that 279 bodies have been transferred to hospitals since the disaster occurred.

An earlier toll had reported the death of 242 passengers and crew members.

The plane crashed last Thursday less than a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, according to the Indian Civil Aviation Authority, and issued a distress call before crashing outside the airport.

A knowledgeable source said that this crash is the first of its kind for a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a long-haul aircraft that entered service in 2011.