Six months after the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, grieving families continue to demand answers and compensation as they struggle to rebuild their lives.
The June 12 disaster claimed 260 lives 241 passengers and crew on board, and 19 residents on the ground after the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner lost power to both engines shortly after take-off and plummeted into nearby buildings. Only one passenger survived.
Among the victims was 12-year-old Akash Patni, who was killed when part of the plane fell onto the neighbourhood tea stall where he had been sitting. His parents, Suresh and Sita Patni, gather daily to pray in front of his photograph in the one-room home where they now try to cope with overwhelming grief.
“My son was sitting near the stall when the plane fell. There was smoke and fire everywhere,” said his father, who recalls being unable to reach Akash as the flames spread. His mother still bears severe burn scars from her attempt to save him. “I tried to pull him out, but he did not survive,” she said quietly.
Other families shared similar heartbreak. Police officer Kiritsinh Chavda lost his brother and sister-in-law, whose bodies took a week to identify. “The scene was chaos. The bodies were badly burned,” he said.
Air India initially paid $28,000 to each victim’s family, while parent company Tata Group pledged further $112,000 funds many families say they are still waiting for. The airline has acknowledged the delays, saying the compensation process is ongoing and that supporting affected families remains a priority.
For some, however, money is not the focus.
Retired academic Badasab Saiyed, who lost four relatives, has joined a complaint led by a British law firm seeking clarity on the cause of the crash. “Who is responsible? Was it maintenance? Boeing? Or pilot error?” he asked. “This should never have happened.”
At the crash site, debris has been cleared, leaving behind charred building remains and burnt-out vehicles a stark reminder of the tragedy.
But for parents like the Patnis, the emotional wreckage remains. Sita, who has abandoned her tea stall, says even the sound of a passing aircraft now fills her with dread.
“We lost our son,” Suresh said softly. “Nothing can replace him.”