One year after the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed 260 lives, families of the victims continue to grapple with grief, unanswered questions and the lasting impact of one of India's deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
As the city marked the first anniversary of the tragedy on Thursday, relatives and survivors shared painful memories of June 12, 2025, recalling how their lives were irreversibly altered by the crash.
Among them was Sureshbhai Metaria, whose son Akash Metaria lost his life in the accident. Speaking to reporters, he said the tragedy had shattered his family.
"My son is no longer with us. He used to bring tiffin for his mother every day. I pray that such an incident never happens anywhere in the world. Such tragedies destroy lives. My life has been ruined," he said.
Unable to contain his emotions, Metaria described the lingering grief that continues to dominate daily life.
"We do not feel like doing anything anymore. Whenever we enter the house, family members start crying. Within minutes, memories overwhelm us," he said.
Several families said they were still waiting for definitive answers about what caused the crash and whether accountability would follow.
One victim's relative said her mother had been travelling to meet her brother in London when the accident occurred. "We are hoping that we will get justice," she said.
Saud Memon, who lost four family members in the crash, recalled the heartbreaking sequence of events that unfolded after he received news of the disaster.
"My brother, sister-in-law and their two children were on that flight. My brother had come home to celebrate Eid, and we were all very happy. I even accompanied him to the airport before his departure. What happened that day is something none of us can ever forget," he said.
Memon added that families are still waiting for clarity regarding the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
Survivor Kalpana Ben also recounted the terrifying moments following the crash. She described helping a young girl escape the wreckage despite suffering severe burns herself.
"A girl cried out to me for help because there was a fire. I reached out to rescue her and my hand got burned. My saree, dupatta, mobile phone and shoes were all burnt. I could barely stand and had to crawl on my knees," she recalled.
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the hostel complex of B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad's Meghani Nagar area shortly after takeoff. According to official figures, 241 of the 242 people on board were killed, along with 19 people on the ground, taking the total death toll to 260.
The sole survivor was British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in seat 11A and managed to escape the wreckage.
The scale of the disaster triggered a massive rescue and recovery operation. Due to extensive burns and impact damage, authorities relied heavily on DNA testing to identify many of the victims. Hundreds of personnel were deployed for rescue, recovery and investigation efforts.
Among those killed was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose identity was later confirmed through DNA analysis.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) continues to investigate the crash. While a preliminary report has been released, the final report is still awaited. Investigators are examining multiple possibilities, including technical malfunctions, operational factors and the fuel cutoff switch theory.
Meanwhile, compensation-related issues have also drawn attention. Air India recently denied allegations that families were being pressured to sign legal waivers in exchange for compensation settlements. The airline stated that there was "absolutely no deadline or pressure" on families to accept its final settlement offer.
The clarification came after concerns were raised by Rupani's daughter, who alleged that the airline was exerting pressure on victims' families regarding compensation-related documentation.
A year later, while investigations continue and reconstruction plans move forward at the crash site, many families say true closure remains elusive. For them, the anniversary serves as a painful reminder of lives lost, dreams cut short and questions that remain unanswered.
