A year after Air India Flight 171 crash, families still await answers and justice

Javed Ali Syed and his wife, Mariam, with their children Zayn (in blue) and Amani. FILE PIC

We are still awaiting justice and details on why this plane crashed and who was responsible for it," said Rafiq Memon, uncle of Javed Ali Syed, who died in the Air India Flight 171 crash along with his wife and two kids in 2025. A year after the incident, the reason for the crash still remains a mystery.

On June 12, 2025, the London-bound Flight 171 crashed after taking off at Ahmedabad Airport, claiming the lives of 260 people and injuring several more. A total of 169 Indians and 52 British nationals were killed.

Family that died

Javed Ali Syed was settled in the United Kingdom, where he married Mariam and had two children - Zayn and Amani. All four died in the crash. Javed was originally from Malad. He arrived in Mumbai with his family to celebrate Eid and for his mother's heart surgery.

Rafiq Memon, Javed Ali Syed's uncle. FILE PIC/NIMESH DAVE

They were returning to the UK on the flight that crashed. "Thinking about this incident keeps us up at night. We will fight till justice is done. We got the initial compensation from Air India, but other compensation is still pending," Memon said.

Dispute over compensation

While Memon and his family applied for compensation from Air India, Mariam's brother and her family also claimed compensation. "Javed's mother is still alive, and it is her right to get the compensation. But the amount is stuck as Mariam's family has also applied. We got a notice from the UK, but it's not possible for us to go there and fight for the property and compensation," Memon said.

‘Can't stop grieving'

Imtiaz Ali, brother of Javed Ali Syed
‘While I have learned to live without my brother, my mother still misses him immensely. In December last year, she had three stents put in her heart, and the doctors said that she can't take stress. But how can she stop grieving the loss we have borne?'

‘Accepted reality'

While Javed's family has been dealing with the loss in one end of the city in Malad, on the other side, in Dombivali, the elderly father of Roshni Songhare, Rajendra Songhare, has now accepted that his daughter is not coming back. "I don't actively think of her, because that is too painful. But I remember her in small things. I would be sitting, or doing some work, and some or the other thing reminds me of her, and it makes me happy," Rajendra said. "It was her time, so she had to leave us. I can't hold any anger about that. I now try to find happiness in her memories instead." The Songhare family received the compensation that they were promised by the airline.

169
No of Indians killed

52
No of British nationals killed