GURUGRAM- Families who lost loved ones in the Air India (AI) Flight 171 crash have said they want the truth about the disaster, not financial compensation. The London-bound flight went down shortly after departing Ahmedabad (AMD) on 12 June 2025, killing 260 people.
One year on, relatives in Leicester are still waiting for the final investigation report. The aircraft was heading to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when it crashed, and several British families say clear answers are the only thing that can bring them peace.
Air India AI171 Crash
Nusratjahan Jethara, from Leicester, was among those killed when Flight AI171 crashed. Her husband, Mohammed Shoeb Iproliya, said he struggles to sleep and keeps asking himself why the tragedy happened, BBC reported.
The 32-year-old said he does not want money or anything else, only the truth about why the crash occurred and who is responsible.
Iproliya described Jethara as his “whole life” and a happy person who enjoyed travelling to beaches and spending time with friends. He said the couple had dreams of starting a family and buying a house in the UK.
He recalled receiving a phone call from his wife on the morning of the crash, when she told him she missed him and reminded him to meet her at Gatwick Airport. He replied that she should have a safe journey.
After hearing the plane had crashed, Iproliya said he lost consciousness, and his friends had to throw water over him. He later flew to India to identify her body at a hospital, and said his right hand still shakes from that experience.
Scale of the Disaster
Air India confirmed that all passengers and crew on board were killed, apart from one survivor. The victims included 169 Indian nationals and 52 British nationals.
Despite the time that has passed, an official report explaining the cause of the disaster has not yet been published.
A preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that both of the aircraft’s fuel switches moved to the “cut-off” position immediately after take-off. This action stopped the fuel supply to the engine. Investigators have not yet released their final findings on what caused the crash.
More Leicester Victims Remembered
Pragna Devji lost both her parents, Devji Lacmane and Vanita Cana, in the crash. She said her mother used to call her every day, and she now finds herself waiting for calls that will never come.
Her husband, Ashvin Dhiru, told the BBC that Devji Lacmane worked in a shop in Leicester and was known as a very kind man. Customers often asked about him when they had not seen him, and he was always willing to help others with money or work.
Dhiru said the couple now thinks about the crash every time they see an aircraft overhead. He called for the report to be released so that future accidents can be prevented.
Faizan Rafik, also from Leicester, was another passenger who died in the tragedy. His cousin, Sameer Rafik, said the family misses him every single day and keeps a fake smile to get through life. He described Faizan as a very happy person who had not appeared sad in five years and had no negative qualities.
Sameer Rafik, 28, called for a thorough report that identifies who was at fault. He said both pilots were experienced and questioned whether the aircraft could have crashed because of thermal issues alone. He said he wants a proper answer from Air India and the government about the actual cause.
Bottom Line
A spokesperson for Air India said the memory of the AI171 tragedy continues to be deeply felt across the airline one year on.
The spokesperson added that the company stands in solidarity with the affected families and communities, remains united in mourning, and has made supporting those impacted with care and compassion a priority.
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