Ahmedabad plane crash anniversary: Families say life has never been same

Ahmedabad: A year after the deadliest contemporary aviation disaster in India claimed 260 lives, families of the victims say their lives have been shattered and remain haunted by trauma. On the first anniversary of the crash, relatives and a survivor revisited the agony of that day, recalling the emotional void and the search for answers and justice.

Sureshbhai Metaria, father of Akash Metaria, said the tragedy destroyed his family and changed everything forever. “My son is no longer with us. He used to bring tiffin for his mother every day… My life has been ruined,” he said, struggling to hold back tears. “We do not feel like doing anything anymore. Whenever we enter the house, family members start crying. Within minutes, memories overwhelm us.”

Another family member said they are still waiting for clarity and accountability. “We are hoping that we will get justice. My mother was on her way to meet my brother when the tragedy occurred,” they said.

Saud Memon, who lost four family members—his brother, sister-in-law and their two children—recalled the moment he learned of the disaster. “Four members of my family were on that flight… My brother had come home to celebrate Eid. We were all very happy. When it was time for him to return to London, I even accompanied him to the airport,” Memon told IANS. “We still have not received clear answers about why this tragedy happened.” He showed reporters the last photo he had taken with them at the airport before their departure.

Survivor Kalpana Ben recounted the terrifying aftermath. “A girl cried out to me, saying, ‘Masi, please get me out, there is a fire.’ I reached out to help her, and my hand got burned… My saree, dupatta, mobile phone and even my shoes were burnt. My feet were badly injured. People were running in panic. I could barely stand and had to crawl on my knees,” she said.

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the hostel complex of B.J. Medical College in Meghani Nagar, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, according to official reports. The disaster triggered nationwide mourning and large-scale rescue and identification operations.

The sole survivor of the aircraft was British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who escaped from seat 11A. Authorities said DNA testing was required to identify many victims due to severe burns and impact damage, and hundreds of personnel were deployed for recovery and investigation. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed and was later identified through DNA analysis.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) continues to probe the cause of the crash. Preliminary findings pointed to technical and operational factors, though the final report is still awaited. Questions about pilot actions, possible technical failures and the fuel-cutoff switch theory remain under examination.

Longer-term changes are planned at the crash site, with the damaged hostel complex earmarked for reconstruction into a larger facility as part of state government redevelopment plans.

Air India denied allegations that families are being pressured to sign legal waivers in exchange for compensation. The Tata Group-owned airline said there is “absolutely no deadline or pressure” on anyone to accept its final settlement offer. The clarification came after the daughter of Rupani alleged the airline was exerting pressure on families to sign legal documents related to compensation claims.

Families of the victims say they are still awaiting answers, accountability and closure.

(Inputs from IANS)