VOI World/ Desk
A year after the devastating Air India AI171 crash claimed 260 lives, families of the victims continue to grapple with grief, uncertainty and unanswered questions, while one bereaved husband now faces the prospect of being forced to leave the United Kingdom.
Mohammad Shethwala, a 28-year-old from Vadodara, lost his wife Sadikabanu Tapeliwala and their two-year-old daughter Fatima when Air India flight AI171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The tragedy killed 241 people on board and 19 people on the ground.
Now, as he continues to mourn their loss, Shethwala is fighting a separate battle with UK immigration authorities after his request to remain in Britain on compassionate grounds was reportedly rejected. According to reports, he had moved to the UK as a dependant on his wife’s student visa and now faces uncertainty over his future in the country where the family had built their life together.
His case comes as families across India and the UK marked the first anniversary of the crash with memorial services, prayers and renewed calls for transparency. Many relatives say they are still waiting for definitive answers about what caused one of the deadliest aviation disasters involving Indian passengers in recent years.
Investigators have said the inquiry remains ongoing, with no confirmed timeline for a final report. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has stated that its objective is to establish the causes of the crash and improve aviation safety, rather than assign blame.
Families in both India and the UK have also voiced concerns over compensation processes, access to information and the emotional toll of living without closure. Some relatives have launched legal action, while others continue to seek greater transparency from authorities and aviation stakeholders.
For Shethwala, however, the anniversary carries an additional burden. While many families continue to seek answers about the crash, he is also fighting to remain in the country where he says his last memories of his wife and daughter were made.
