Daijiworld Media Network - Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, May 13: Relatives of victims of the Air India AI-171 crash have urged authorities to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation, demanding that the final report be fair and supported by full disclosure of Black Box information and raw flight data.
The families made their appeal during a gathering in Ahmedabad held ahead of the first anniversary of the tragedy, which is set for June 12. They stressed that accountability should not be assigned solely on the basis of pilot actions unless all technical evidence is made public and thoroughly examined.
The London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad last year, resulting in 260 fatalities, including passengers, crew, and people on the ground. The investigation is being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu recently indicating that the final report is expected within a month.
At the meeting, around 50 affected families reiterated that financial compensation was not enough and said their primary concern was understanding the exact cause of the crash. They repeatedly called for access to Black Box data, insisting that only complete transparency could provide closure and prevent misinformation.
Several family members shared personal accounts of loss and expressed doubts over early assumptions that the crash may have been caused solely by pilot error. Some alleged that technical faults or maintenance lapses could have played a role, citing earlier concerns about the aircraft’s condition.
Families of victims also described difficulties in dealing with airlines and authorities after the incident. While some reported receiving compensation from Tata Sons and Air India, others said communication with the airline had reduced over time, leaving unresolved queries about expenses and support.
One family member, Krutik Patel, who lost his younger brother in the crash, said the victim had been returning to the UK after a visit to India and was scheduled to start a new job later that year. He emphasized that the family sought truth over assumptions and urged that no premature conclusions be drawn until all data from the flight recorders is fully examined.
Another relative, Janvi Purohit, who lost her brother, said the family wanted justice rather than financial compensation alone. She questioned reports about possible pre-existing technical issues with the aircraft and demanded clarity on why the flight was cleared for operation if such concerns existed.
Similarly, other families echoed demands for disclosure of cockpit and flight data, arguing that compensation packages did not address unanswered questions about responsibility and safety.
Some relatives also raised concerns about communication gaps with the airline, alleging delays in responses regarding compensation claims and lack of accessible support channels at the local level.
Social activist Kuldip Ishrani, who has been working with nearly 200 affected families, said many relatives were also seeking permission to conduct religious or memorial rituals at the crash site ahead of the anniversary. He added that families from different communities were united in their demand for release of raw investigation data.
Ishrani also said families had reached out to pilot associations and international investigation bodies, urging greater involvement of the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch in the inquiry and requesting that all technical aspects, including emergency systems such as the Ram Air Turbine, be thoroughly reviewed.
As the anniversary approaches, the families continue to press for what they describe as a single overarching demand: a full, transparent, and evidence-based explanation of what caused one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters.