Families of the victims from last year’s Air India flight crash gathered at the site on Friday to observe the anniversary, still waiting for clarity on what caused the tragedy.
On June 12, 2025, a Boeing 787 collided with a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad in western India, resulting in 260 deaths — making it the deadliest aviation accident in a decade.
Indian officials are expected to release an interim report soon, but relatives of the victims are frustrated, awaiting a comprehensive final explanation.
Suresh Patni, a driver, visited the crash site where his teenage son Akash was engulfed in flames. “We’re here today only to remember him on his first death anniversary,” Patni shared with AFP.
“Akash was a bright student and had so much potential,” he added, commemorating his son with a framed photo, a life-sized cutout, flowers, scattered rose petals, and lit lamps.
The crash resulted in the deaths of 241 passengers on the plane and 19 individuals on the ground. Debris like bags, clothes, and a melted shoe remain partially buried in the scorched earth, with charred trees around.
“Knowing an airplane is flying overhead still hurts us,” Patni said, noting that their home is near Ahmedabad’s airport flight path in Gujarat.
Lindy Cameron, the British High Commissioner to India, paid homage at the crash site during the first anniversary. “Our house remains in the same spot, but we prefer not to stay here. The faces and memories haunt us,” she remarked.
Nearby, a woman wept as she held a framed photo of her late relatives, while another family scattered rose petals amidst the ruins of the hostel in memory of their son.
Relatives expected a conclusive report by Friday explaining the mishap. However, with investigations ongoing, only an interim report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is anticipated.
A preliminary report, issued a month after the crash, indicated that fuel supply to the engines was cut just before impact — raising suspicions of pilot error. It included a brief transcript of the captain and co-pilot discussing the fuel issue, which led to theories of pilot suicide.
Criticism of the report was swift. It failed to clarify why the fuel switches were turned off, leaving unresolved whether it was a pilot’s mistake or a malfunction.
Victims’ families are convening in Ahmedabad for a lawyer-organized conference with aviation safety experts and plan to hold a candlelight vigil after sunset.
Nilesh Joshi, who traveled from London after attending an Indian wedding, spoke about the importance of the final report for closure. His wife, Kaminiben Nilesh Joshi, was killed in the crash. “It’s taking so long for authorities to assess what happened,” he said. “For those of us who lost loved ones, knowing the reason is crucial.”
Only one passenger survived: British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who bears significant psychological scars and persistent questions about the incident, including why it happened.
Vijay Sengal, a sanitation inspector at a nearby hospital, vividly recalls the plane’s crash, describing the deafening noise. He was among the first responders to assist injured victims.
“It was heartbreaking. When we tried to recover bodies, they wouldn’t come out. Instead, we’d find a hand or a foot,” Sengal explained. Now, many avoid the area after dark, fearing haunted spirits. “We believe in gods and spirits. Perhaps those passengers still have unresolved issues or unfulfilled last wishes,” he said.
