Families Seek Truth One Year After Air India Crash
A year after the Air India crash, a man who lost his wife in the tragedy has expressed that he does not want financial compensation but rather the truth about what caused the disaster.
Nusratjahan Jethara, from Leicester, was among the 260 people who died when Flight 171, bound for London, crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad, India, on 12 June 2025.
Her husband, Mohammed Shoeb Iproliya, shared the emotional toll the event has taken on him, stating he struggles to sleep and often finds himself questioning why the tragedy occurred whenever he closes his eyes.
With the investigation into the crash still ongoing, an Air India spokesperson said:
"We stand in solidarity with the families and communities affected and remain united in mourning those we have lost."
Following the crash, Air India confirmed that all passengers and crew perished except for one survivor. The victims included 169 Indian nationals and 52 British nationals.
However, an official report detailing the cause of the disaster has yet to be released.
"We don't want any money, anything, nothing, we need the truth - why it happened and who's responsible,"Iproliya said.
He described Jethara as his "whole life" and a "happy girl" who enjoyed travelling to beaches and spending time with friends. They had plans to start a family and buy a house in the UK.
"It is a very difficult day, 12th of June, 2025. I never forget that day,"said the 32-year-old.
He recalled receiving a phone call from his wife that morning in which she told him "I miss you" and reminded him from the runway to meet her at Gatwick Airport.
He responded,
"OK, no problem, have a safe journey."
Upon learning about the crash, Iproliya said he was "not conscious" and friends had to throw water on him to revive him.
He flew to India to identify Jethara's body at the hospital and mentioned that his right hand still trembles from the experience.
Iproliya emphasized that he is now seeking only one thing—the truth.
Investigators have not yet published their final findings regarding the cause of the crash.
A preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau indicated that both of the plane's fuel switches were moved to the "cut-off" position immediately after take-off, which stopped fuel supply to the engine.
Other Families Share Their Grief and Call for Transparency
Pragna Devji also lost her parents, Devji Lacmane and Vanita Cana, in the crash.
"My mum called me every day. After this accident, I'm just waiting for my mum's call,"she said.
"I'm missing so much, both of them."
Her husband, Ashvin Dhiru, told the BBC that Devji Lacmane worked in a shop in Leicester and was known as a "very kind" man, with customers often inquiring about him when he was absent.
"If people ask for any kind of help, like money-wise or any other help, work-wise, he was always happy to help,"Dhiru said.
Dhiru added that every time they see an aircraft overhead, they are reminded of the crash.
He expressed the couple’s desire for the crash report to be released and hopes it will help prevent future accidents.
"We need to know the final reports, how it happened, and for the future, what they are going to improve on,"he said.
"We lost our loved ones, no-one else can suffer from that kind of situation."
Remembering Faizan Rafik and the Call for Accountability
Faizan Rafik, from Leicester, was another passenger who lost his life in the crash.
His cousin, Sameer Rafik, shared the impact of the loss on their family.
"We miss Faizan every single day, every single moment,"he said.
"Every single day is mess in our life. It's like we're keeping a fake smile on our faces."
Sameer described Faizan as a "very happy guy" who had not been seen sad in the last five years despite many ups and downs in his life.
"There is not even a single negative point we can remember about Faizan. It's always a positive thing,"he said.
The 28-year-old cousin called for a thorough report to be released explaining how the plane crashed.
"I want an action on that - whose fault it is. Both pilots were experienced enough - they can't just crash the flight because of the thermal issues - I don't think so,"he said.
"I need a proper answer from the Air India and from the government. What is the actual issue?"
Air India’s Statement One Year After the Tragedy
An Air India spokesperson reiterated the airline’s commitment to supporting those affected by the tragedy.
"One year on, the memory of the AI171 tragedy continues to be deeply felt across Air India.
We stand in solidarity with the families and communities affected and remain united in mourning those we have lost.
Supporting those impacted with care and compassion has been our priority, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to them."
Additional reporting by Dan Hunt.
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