Tears, Questions And No Closure: AI-171 Families Demand Transparent Probe

Families of victims killed in the Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad demanded a transparent investigation and public release of Black Box and raw flight data ahead of the tragedy’s first anniversary.

The London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12 last year, killing 260 people, including passengers, crew members, and civilians on the ground.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) continues to investigate the disaster, while Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu recently indicated that the final report could arrive within a month.

At a gathering in Ahmedabad, nearly 50 affected families stated that compensation alone could not answer questions surrounding the accident.

Relatives repeatedly urged authorities not to place responsibility solely on pilots without fully disclosing technical findings.

Krutik Patel, who lost his younger brother Dirth Patel in the crash, said the family received compensation from Tata Sons and Air India but wanted a fair report based on complete facts. He alleged the aircraft may have suffered technical and maintenance problems before departure.

Janvi Purohit, whose brother Akash died in the crash, said her family sought justice rather than financial support. Her father, Nilesh Purohit, demanded honest disclosure of technical faults and Black Box records.

Mohammad Rafiq from Diu alleged his family still had not received compensation from Air India.

Social activist Kuldip Ishrani said nearly 200 affected families continued demanding access to raw Black Box data and wider international involvement in the investigation.

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