National 12 Jun, 2026

Candles, portraits and tears: Ahmedabad plane crash victims' kin pay tributes near catastrophe site

Business To Business, Mumbai, 12^th June, 2026:    One year after the devastating crash of Air India Flight 171 crash, grieving family members gathered near the crash site in Ahmedabad to remember their loved ones and pay heartfelt tributes.
Carrying photographs of the deceased and lighting candles, relatives visited the area in small groups to mark the first anniversary of one of India's worst aviation disasters.
On June 12, 2025, the London-bound Air India flight crashed into the hostel complex of B. J. Medical College in the Meghaninagar area shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The tragedy claimed 260 lives:

• 241 passengers and crew members on board the aircraft.
• 19 people on the ground.

Only one passenger survived the crash.
On the anniversary, family members arrived in staggered groups of five or six people, reflecting the solemn and personal nature of the commemorations.
Many stood silently near the crash site, while others offered prayers and lit candles in memory of those who lost their lives.
For the families, the anniversary served as a painful reminder of the sudden loss of loved ones. The gathering highlighted the enduring emotional impact of the disaster, which affected families across India and abroad.
The tragedy remains deeply etched in public memory, not only because of the high death toll but also because it claimed the lives of passengers, crew members, and residents on the ground.
The anniversary coincided with the release of an interim update by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which said that the investigation remains ongoing and that a final report will be issued after all investigative, review, and consultation processes are completed.
As families gathered to mourn and remember, many expressed hope that the final findings will provide answers about the circumstances that led to the tragedy and help prevent similar accidents in the future.