A Year After Deadly Air India Crash, Families Await Answers

Families of the 260 victims of the 2025 Air India plane crash gathered at the disaster site in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12 to commemorate the first anniversary, their grief compounded by a lack of definitive answers regarding the cause of the tragedy.

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We are here today only to remember him on his first death anniversary.

The Boeing 787 aircraft crashed into a medical college shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, marking the deadliest air disaster in India in ten years. Among the victims were 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. The site remains scarred, with fragments of personal belongings and burnt trees serving as stark reminders of the event.

Victims' relatives expressed frustration as Indian authorities are expected to release only an interim report in the coming days, falling short of the final disclosure they had anticipated. Suresh Patni, whose teenage son Akash was killed at their family's tea stall near the crash site, shared the ongoing pain. "It pains us when we hear an aeroplane flying overhead," he said, noting that their home's proximity to the airport constantly evokes painful memories.

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He was a good student and could have done really well for himself.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had released a preliminary report a month after the crash, as required by international law. This 15-page document indicated that the fuel supply to the jet's engines was cut off moments before impact, raising questions about potential pilot error. A brief conversation between the captain and co-pilot about the fuel supply issue was also published, fueling theories of pilot suicide. However, the report did not clarify whether the fuel switches were intentionally turned off or if it was due to a malfunction, drawing criticism from relatives.

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It pains us when we hear an aeroplane flying overhead.

As investigations continue, victims' families are organizing meetings with aviation and air safety experts and plan to hold a candlelight vigil. Nilesh Joshi, whose wife was killed in the crash, emphasized the importance of the report's release for closure. "Why are authorities taking so much time to assess the crash?" he asked. "The release of the report is important for closure, for people like me who have lost their loved ones."

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Our house is still at the same location. But we don’t feel like staying here... we are reminded of the same faces and memories.