Families Mourn and Wait as Air India Crash Investigation Unfolds
AHMEDABAD, India — Families of the victims killed in the crash of Air India Flight 171 are still waiting for answers, days after one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history. The plane went down shortly after takeoff on June 12, killing at least 279 people 241 passengers on board including crew and 38 on the ground.
The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner burst into flames as it slammed into a residential neighborhood in Ahmedabad, destroying homes and killing medical workers stationed nearby.
Out of the 242 passengers and crew, only one person survived.
“I haven’t received a single call since Thursday,” said Rinal Christian, whose older brother was aboard the flight. “They told us DNA results would be ready in 48 hours. It’s been four days.”
Authorities began releasing some of the bodies on Sunday, though many remain unidentified. According to Dr. Rajnish Patel at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, 80 victims had been confirmed by late Sunday. “This process must be handled carefully. Identification requires time,” he said.
Air India confirmed the jet was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 crew members.
At a crematorium in the city, mourners held a ceremony for Megha Mehta, a London-based professional returning home. Around 30 people gathered to chant prayers. Families were advised not to open coffins due to the severe condition of the remains. Witnesses at the crash site described charred bodies and scattered human remains.
On the ground, rescue workers continued clearing wreckage as police surveyed the area. Authorities say they have now recovered both black boxes: the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. These are key to understanding what caused the crash.
“We expect the flight data to offer a full picture of what went wrong,” said Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.
Though initial reports confirm the plane experienced mechanical issues shortly after takeoff, officials have not determined an exact cause. India has launched a full inspection of its Boeing 787 fleet.
British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, escaped from the wreckage alive. His brother, also on the flight, was killed.
Imtiyaz Ali, still waiting for DNA confirmation for his brother, voiced frustration. “It’s the airline’s duty to help us,” he said. “We need answers now.”
This marks one of India’s worst aviation tragedies since the 2010 Mangalore crash, which killed 158.
As bodies are slowly returned to grieving families, the crash investigation moves forward with growing public pressure for clarity and accountability.
