Ask the families of those who perished on Air India Flight 171 — still smarting, more than a decade later, from the crash in Ahmedabad. This horrible accident took the lives of 260 people, including children and entire families. The accident occurred near BJ Medical College. In its place, a now charred parcel offers a stark, sobering reminder of the destruction that swept through. One month after the crash, the city issued a preliminary report. An unfortunate reality is that families often find themselves perplexed and disappointed by its results.
Among those victims were the most dear people to Mr. B.S. Saiyad—inari, his brother Inayat, wife and daughter. And like Chaturvedi, Ravi Thakor also lost his daughter, Aadhya, and mother, Sarla Ben Thakor. The pain of these losses is compounded by the uncertainty surrounding the crash’s causes as families await a comprehensive investigation.
Preliminary Report Raises Concerns
The preliminary report, released to shine some sunlight on the situation leading to the crash, still leaves most critical questions unanswered. Investigators are looking closely at important factors such as flight data and aircraft wreckage. They’re looking at medical examiner reports and witness testimony to piece together what happened that deadly day. Like many families, I was frustrated by the lack of clarity in the report.
Mr. Thakor expressed his puzzlement about the report’s findings. “There will be many like us who are not that educated and don’t understand what has been written in the report,” he stated. Early results showed that the fuel switches cut off immediately after take-off. They turned back on just seconds later, shocking grieving loved ones and leading to grave concerns about a potential coverup or negligence.
“This was an international flight with many experts involved with it. Still no one picked up on such a huge mistake. The final report must explain it. They have a responsibility — so many lives were lost.” – Mr. Thakor
The families believe that understanding the details surrounding the crash is crucial for their closure and for future safety in aviation.
Investigative Process Under Scrutiny
Our Air India Flight 171 investigation extensively explores the qualifications of that flight crew. It further examines their performance pre-flight. The pilot, Sumeet Sabharwal, and co-pilot, Clive Kunder, had an impressive 9,000 hours of flying experience between them. Prior to departure, both were given rest and breath tests to confirm they were fit for flight. For this reason, some family members worry that the attention will inappropriately blame the pilots.
Mr. Saiyad reflected on this concern, stating, “It seems like the pilot is being blamed. The way the report is set out, it looks like the pilot is innocent.” He highlighted the need for an impartial investigation that fully considers every potential cause of the crash.
“If this investigation is to be done transparently, there can’t be any prejudice.” – B.S. Saiyad
As with the most complex aviation accidents, the devil is in the details or in dozens of variables that require close scrutiny. Families continue to pray that investigators will “follow all leads, look everywhere” in their search for truth.
Emotional Toll on Victims’ Families
The emotional impact on the families impacted by this tragedy, as well as all our law enforcement is tremendous. Millions are now haunted by the memories and questions surrounding the final acts of their loved ones. Mr. Thakor poignantly recalled his hopes for Aadhya, expressing sorrow over missed opportunities to celebrate her life: “We thought this year we’d take her to the temple … let her grandparents bless her.”
Even the crash site, now flooded with memories, provides a constant painful reminder of loss. According to Mr. Thakor, “A whole iron cupboard melted in the area my mum used to cook in. Imagine what would happen to a person.” These rich memories really bring the effect of the event to life. It has an impact that reaches far beyond the direct victims, their families, and the community at large.
“We have seen the charred bodies with our eyes. We have felt it. I can still smell the stench; it’s in my nose. How would it have been for them?” – Mr. Thakor
As they await the final report, expected to take months to complete, grieving families continue to seek answers and demand complete transparency in the investigation process.
