Families in the UK affected by the Air India plane crash last year are seeking clarity, answers and transparency as they try to move on with their lives, a community leader and crisis management consultant said.
Sanjeev Patel is based in Leicester, a city with a large Gujarati community and home to many families affected by the 2025 London-bound AI171 crash shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
The accident claimed the lives of 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 19 people on the ground.
Speaking to PTI on the first anniversary of the incident, Patel recalled the shock and devastation that swept through the tight-knit community miles away.
Patel, who has been in contact with many of the victims’ families, said: “The Leicester community is so tight, so close, that when we woke up to the news it took us all into a state of shock, disbelief and devastation.”
“Throughout the year, families have been striving for closure, striving for a way forward, for clarity, for answers, and this is what they want. They want clarity, they want answers, they want transparency, they want to get to a point where they can move forward,” he said.
He added: “Many are still struggling to cope, not just from the mental trauma, but from the financial trauma it caused, and adjusting to daily life. I don’t think we can put a timetable on it. A lot of families have been affected, the whole community has been affected.”
As a volunteer at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the city, Patel recalls that the temple became a focal point for multi-faith “shradhanjali” prayer meetings in the aftermath of the disaster.
“It was a tragic situation and all we wanted to do collectively was pray for those families, let them know there was support for them and give them space,” he recalls. “We prayed for those souls who lost their lives, and that those families would find strength in the difficult journey ahead.”
Among those who needed emotional and psychological support was the sole survivor of the accident, Viswashkumar Ramesh, whom Patel had been helping throughout the year as a close family friend.
“Vishwas [Ramesh] He lives on Universal Credit (social benefits). He cannot leave his home without support. “He is still suffering from serious trauma, and those scars will stay with him for a long time, if not forever,” Patel said.
“It is very difficult to explain the extent of the damage. Every family goes through that journey, that devastation. Viswash and his family have been devastated to an unimaginable extent,” he said.
“We felt the primary focus was to make sure we continued the process that began in India to diagnose and evaluate him physically and psychologically and provide the kind of care he deserved,” he added.
“For now, this dialogue and support from Air India to pay for these treatments is ongoing and constructive. I hope this continues,” he said.
Air India said in a statement that it remains committed to supporting every individual affected by the AI171 tragedy with “care and compassion” and had a “constructive and meaningful engagement” with Ramesh and his representatives.
Asked whether families might be able to move towards some form of closure one year later this week, Patel said the “wound is as painful” as it was on that fateful day in 2025.
“They want justice, they want answers, and they want anyone out there to support people like them, whether it’s the UK government or the authorities, maybe to do more, or simply reach out,” Patel said.
“For Air India, it may consider improving how it allocates its sponsorship and support. We are optimistic about our discussions,” he added.
Under international aviation guidelines, a final accident report is due within a year where possible, but investigations can take longer in complex cases. An interim statement is expected while the investigation into the incident continues.
