Families of the 241 passengers and crew who died in the June 2025 crash of Air India Flight AI171 are marking the first anniversary of the disaster as investigators move toward publishing a final report on what caused the Ahmedabad-to-London flight to fall from the sky. The aircraft carried 242 people, and only one survived the crash. For more than a year, relatives have lived without definitive answers regarding whether human error, mechanical failure or another factor caused the loss of thrust, while also managing the return of personal effects and coordinating with airline representatives.
In Mumbai, Imtiyaz Ali Javed and his mother, Farida Bano, have spent the year grieving the loss of Imtiyaz’s brother Javed, Javed’s wife Mariam and their two children. Javed, who lived in the United Kingdom, had traveled to Ahmedabad with his family to visit relatives before boarding Flight AI171. Imtiyaz said the family’s home changed irrevocably after the crash. “It feels like Javed is still there,” he said.
Farida Bano, who is a heart patient, was shielded from the news of the crash for hours after it occurred. Doctors and Air India officials advised caution, fearing the shock could be fatal. Family members eventually told her the truth when she was flown to Ahmedabad. “I told her the plane had crashed,” Imtiyaz said. “Javed was dead.”
The emotional and physical toll on Farida Bano has been severe. In September, her heart condition worsened, and doctors inserted three stents, bringing the total to five. Imtiyaz said her distress directly impacts her health. “When she cries missing Javed, her sugar levels shoot up,” he said. She continues to visit the gravesite, bringing food Javed enjoyed, and speaks to him in the present tense.
Imtiyaz said the family spent months seeking updates on the investigation, the return of personal belongings and promised medical support from Air India and Tata Group officials. He described receiving vague or delayed responses and said action often followed only after media attention. “We trusted them,” he said. “We thought they would stand with us.” The BBC reported that it reached out to Air India for comment on the family’s allegations.
Air crash investigations are complex, and under international aviation rules, final reports are generally expected within a year. An interim report in this case was released a month after the crash. For the families, the prolonged technical timeline has compounded their grief. “We live in a modern country,” Imtiyaz said. “Why must we wait a year for answers?”
Imtiyaz said he experienced panic attacks after the crash and spent months writing emails to airlines and hiring lawyers to understand what happened. Relatives eventually sent him to Dubai to distance him from the ongoing search for answers. He said the investigation report might eventually bring peace, but a recording from his brother had a more immediate effect.
Weeks after the burial, Imtiyaz’s sister shared an audio message Javed recorded before the crash. In the recording, Javed described a dream in which two angels bathed him in a fragrance that smelled of roses. Imtiyaz said listening to the recording shifted his perspective. “This,” he said quietly, “was the answer I needed. He is at peace.”
The family has kept Javed’s damaged suitcase unopened since Air India returned it. “It’s kept away,” Imtiyaz said. “We don’t touch it.” As investigators prepare to publish their final report, the family continues to navigate the reality of the loss. “There are some questions,” Imtiyaz said, “that only the dead can answer.”