Air India families cite compensation barriers and deportation threats one year on
Survivors of the Ahmedabad crash allege bureaucratic hurdles from Tata-owned Air India, while the UK government moves to deport grieving spouses under visa schemes.
One year after Air India Flight 171 crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 259 people, families of the victims report that justice and adequate compensation remain elusive. The incident, involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, has triggered a complex legal and humanitarian crisis, with survivors and relatives highlighting disputed compensation requirements from Air India and its owner, Tata, alongside the deportation of widowed dependents by the UK government.
The crash resulted in 241 fatalities on board and 18 on the ground, leaving deep scars in communities such as Meghani Nagar. Sita Patni, a tea stall owner whose 14-year-old son Aakash died in the blast, describes the psychological toll on the neighbourhood. Aircraft are now a source of trauma for residents who once cheered them overhead, while Patni continues to grapple with the burns sustained while trying to rescue her child.
Compensation disputes have emerged as a significant point of contention. Salim Patel, whose 25-year-old son Sahil died in the crash, alleges that Air India and Tata demanded proof of salaried employment, including office photos, before considering compensation claims. Patel has called for the death penalty for those responsible, arguing that the preliminary report blaming the pilot is incorrect and that the aircraft was faulty.
The investigation status remains unresolved. While a preliminary report issued weeks after the crash blamed the pilot, the final investigation is incomplete. This uncertainty has driven at least 120 families to engage a US-based law firm to assist with claims in India and the United States. Al Jazeera has not received a response from Air India regarding these allegations.
In London, the fallout extends to immigration policy. Muhammad Shethwala, a widower in London, received deportation orders in January 2026 after his wife, who held the visa under the India Young Professionals Scheme, died in the crash. Shethwala has spent approximately $15,000 on legal proceedings to contest the order and seeks a short-term work visa or removal of overstayer accusations. Air India has not provided financial support for his legal costs.
