Bhavika Patel, a British mother of two, lost her husband Ketankumar Patel and mother-in-law Savitaben Patel when Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff on June 21, 2025, killing all 242 people on board, including 53 Britons. Now, nearly a year later, she says her eight-year-old son begs her never to fly Air India again.
Heartbreak and fight for justice
Bhavika, 38, told the Mirror that Air India “took everything in a second” and that she wants “justice.” She said she still cannot believe her husband is gone and sees him in her dreams. She runs a shop in Kensington, London, alone while raising her two children, aged eight and 11.
She received £21,000 in compensation but says the money is gone, and she has had no further help from the airline. She also claims she cannot retrieve her loved ones’ belongings, such as mobile phones and an Apple Watch, because they were put on a website but cannot be properly identified.
Son’s fear and family struggles
Bhavika’s son is in counselling at school and cannot stay home alone. She worries about her daughter starting secondary school. She said her son told her, “Mama do another plane don’t do Air India.” The family will travel to India for the anniversary and Hindu rituals.
Blame on pilots feared
Bhavika fears Indian authorities will blame the two pilots, after a preliminary report from India’s AAIB said both engines lost thrust because fuel-control switches were moved from “run” to “cut off.” She said, “That one is not true, never.” She called for the black box data to be released.
Other British victims’ families speak out
Sagar Patel, who lost his mother Hasumatiben Patel, slammed Air India and the Indian AAIB for lack of transparency. He said his mother’s funeral had to be closed-casket, and his young daughter still walks into her grandmother’s bedroom looking for her.
Shoeb Iproliya, an NHS carer, lost his 28-year-old wife Nusratjahan Yusufbhai Jethara. He said, “I don’t want any money, I don’t want any compensation. I want the truth.” He called on British authorities to intervene.
Romin Vahora, whose brother Parvezbhai Hasanbhai Vahora and three-year-old niece Zuveriyaben died, claimed his brother’s iPhone was returned destroyed, and he has not heard from Air India since. He said his brother’s wife, who was eight months pregnant at the time, was forced to return to India.
Aviation safety advocate criticises report
Ed Pierson, Executive Director of The Foundation for Aviation Safety, called the Indian AAIB’s preliminary report “woefully inadequate” and “incredibly slanted.” He said it “certainly implicated the pilots” and that his organisation’s evidence was ignored.
Ayush S Rajpal, case manager at Chionuma Law, which represents over 110 victims’ families, called for “full transparency” and release of raw flight data recorder data for independent review.
A spokesperson for the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch said their thoughts are with those affected and that release of information rests with Indian authorities. They said they remain engaged with the Indian AAIB.
Air India declined to comment. The Indian AAIB did not respond.
