Key facts
- Families are commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Air India Flight 171 crash.
- The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
- The cause of the crash is still under investigation, with a final report pending.
- Memorial services, vigils, and prayer meetings are being held in various cities.
- The crash site has become an informal memorial with tributes from families.
- Fifty-three British nationals were among the victims.
Families of victims are marking the one-year anniversary of the Air India Flight 171 crash with vigils and prayer meetings. The flight to London crashed seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.
Investigators stated that evidence is being analyzed comprehensively, and a final report will be published once the investigation concludes. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu assured that the investigation is proceeding with diligence and professionalism.
Memorial services are being held across cities. In Ahmedabad, the crash site remains cordoned off and has become an informal memorial. Families, including that of 12-year-old Akash Patni, gathered to remember their loved ones. Sitaben Patni, Akash's mother, returned to the site for the first time since suffering burn injuries in the crash.
The British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron, paid her respects, noting that 53 British nationals were among the victims. A memorial service is scheduled in Leicester. Staff and students at BJ Medical College also held a memorial event and organized a blood donation drive.
For some families, remembrance is taking place away from the crash site. The family of Sarlaben Thakur and her two-year-old daughter Aadhya, both killed in the crash, held a prayer meeting at a temple. They described June 12 as a "black day" and have removed clocks from their home due to the raw grief.
Memorial services were also held in Mumbai for pilots and cabin crew. The family of cabin crew member Maithili Patil gathered for a prayer meeting, placing her personal belongings, including her watch, alongside her picture. Her mother expressed a desire for the truth about the accident's cause.
The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, stated he continues to live with significant psychological scars and emphasized the need for honesty, transparency, and clarity for the families.