Six Months After Air India Flight 171 Crash: Families Demand Answers and Transparency as Investigation Continues

Six months following the devastating Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, the families of victims continue to grapple with unanswered questions, ongoing investigations, and what they perceive as diminishing public attention to one of India's most tragic aviation disasters in recent history.

The catastrophe claimed 260 lives, including 241 passengers and crew members, when the London Gatwick-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. The flight, operating as AI 171, left only one survivor.

For Mukti, whose parents were experiencing air travel for the first time, the ensuing silence has been unbearable. Her father, a farmer from Surat, was traveling with her mother to London to visit their elder daughter.

"Even seeing an airport was significant for us," Mukti shared. "My parents dreamed of seeing the London Eye."

She notes that while officials provided active support initially, this responsiveness has gradually declined. "Nobody responds anymore. Even Air India hasn't addressed our emails regarding the baggage. We simply want our parents' final possessions returned respectfully," she explained.

Although her family has received the interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh from Air India, Mukti indicates there's no clarity regarding the Rs 1-crore support announced through the Tata Trust-linked welfare initiative.

"We've always held Ratan Tata in high regard. That legacy deserves to be honored. For Air India, it might be a damaged aircraft, but for us, we've lost everything," she emphasized. She also described the accusations against the pilots as "deeply unfair," insisting that the truth "must be disclosed to the public."

Another family member based in the UK, originally from Vadodara, lost his 36-year-old sister and brother-in-law in the crash. Speaking anonymously, he confirmed that while the interim compensation was provided, the Trust's payment remains "in process" despite completion of all necessary documentation.

"The crash seems forgotten now, as if nobody cares anymore," he remarked. "We continue waiting for clarity and the black box data. We just want to understand what occurred so such tragedies can be prevented in the future."

Earlier this month, the government informed parliament that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) investigation remains ongoing. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol stated that the probe is being conducted according to the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, and that the final report hasn't been released yet.

One victim's family member expressed hope for an "honest and transparent report."

"This tragedy has transformed everything for us. Especially for my parents, the loss is unendurable. We need closure and truth," they stated.

While the preliminary report was published on July 12, it contains only information based on evidence gathered at that stage. The minister clarified that investigators continue examining all potential causes of the crash. The final report will be issued once a comprehensive assessment is completed, according to Mohol.

Families claim that AAIB's preliminary findings provided limited clarity, highlighting concerns about inadequate communication and delays in accessing personal belongings—issues that persist six months later.

Pritam, a London resident originally from Anand, lost both her in-laws in the crash. They too were traveling to the UK to visit family. She has repeatedly contacted Air India requesting the return of their belongings.

"I had asked my mother-in-law to bring me a Bhagavad Gita. Now I'm simply requesting Air India to return that Gita," she said. "They either refer us to lawyers or tell us the baggage is still being processed. Six months—for what purpose?"

She finds that the preliminary AAIB report "clarified nothing." "We don't know whether it's an issue with Boeing or Air India's maintenance. It's our fundamental right to know what actually happened," she asserted.

Regarding compensation, she added, "People constantly ask if we received the Rs 1 crore. How should we feel about that? This isn't a favor. Money can't bring back my family. We still struggle with sleep. People worldwide who lost loved ones in this crash have formed a support group to stay connected—everyone cries daily. We seek justice and truth. Blaming the pilots is wrong; we demand accountability to prevent this from happening to anyone else."

In a statement to NDTV, Air India expressed solidarity with the families affected by the AI 171 accident.

"We're deeply conscious of our responsibility and are providing support and care to all families affected by the tragedy, which remains our absolute priority. Senior leaders across Tata Group continue to visit families to express their condolences."

The airline reported that over 95 percent of affected families have received interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh.

"More than 120 families have received ex-gratia support of Rs 1 crore from the AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust, with payment to over 80 families in process," an airline spokesperson stated, adding that the airline "remains aware of how difficult this time continues to be."

Six months later, families say their grief has only intensified into a collective demand for transparency and closure. They emphasize that the investigation must not lose its urgency.

"Everyone has just one question," Pritam concluded. "What exactly happened that day?"