UK response to Air India crash ‘disjointed and inadequate', say grieving families

The Guardian

7 hours ago

Grieving family members of three British citizens who were killed in the Air India plane crash have accused the UK government of a 'disjointed, inadequate and painfully slow' response on the ground in India.
The family of Akeel Nanabawa and Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa are calling on the UK government to improve how it is communicating with the family members who rushed to Ahmedabad in Gujarat after the crash.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner's crash on 12 June killed 241 of the 242 people on board.
Family members said they were told their loved ones had been identified and were given a 72-hour timeframe for the bodies to be released, only for this to be retracted without explanation.
They also said they struggled to find medical or forensic support at the hospital, and have received inconsistent and unverified updates from the local authorities, which compounded their feelings of distress.
A family spokesperson said: 'There is no UK leadership here, no medical team, no crisis professionals stationed at the hospital.
'We are forced to make appointments to see consular staff based 20 minutes away in a hotel, while our loved ones lie unidentified in an overstretched and under-resourced hospital.'
Another family member said they felt 'utterly abandoned' by the UK government.
Nanabawa, who ran a recruitment firm, and Vorajee, who volunteered at a local Islamic school in the family's home town of Gloucester, were on a flight to London Gatwick when the plane crashed into buildings moments after failing to properly take off from Ahmedabad airport.
Their family said a local doctor told them that delays in releasing the bodies were linked to understaffing.
Abu Nanabawa, Akeel's cousin, said that several families have raised concerns. 'It seems to be a universally shared sentiment of frustration at the management of this whole crisis,' he said.
'At the moment we just want to have the bodies so that we can bury them and mourn properly. In our faith and religion [Islam] it's very important that the funeral gets done as soon as possible. It's a part of the grieving process to bury and honour them, to return them as soon as possible and grieve them.'
The family members are urging the government to immediately deploy a full crisis team at the hospital, including consular, medical, and forensic officers, as well as implementing a British-run identification unit to assist with DNA testing and speed up the release of remains.
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They want to receive hourly written briefings in the UK and India, as well as financial support for next-of-kin to cover urgent travel, accommodation, and repatriation costs, and for an independent inquiry into the handling of the crisis to be considered.
A Number 10 spokesperson said: 'The government's profound condolences go to all those in this moment of shared grief. We're working tirelessly on the ground to support British nationals and their families.
'It is too early in the investigation process to ascertain what the cause of the accident was here. The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the investigation, supported by UK Air Accident Investigation Branch and the US National Transportation Safety Board.'
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash.
'We have set up a reception centre at the Ummed Hotel, near the Ahmedabad airport, and have a dedicated helpline to provide support and advice for the families and friends of British nationals – friends or family should call 020 7008 5000. If you are in India, you should call [phone] for support, including through in-person consular staff who are available to support families of British nationals, including accompanying them to the hospital.
'Furthermore, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch has deployed an investigation team to support the Indian led investigation on the ground, and UK forensic experts are there to support the consular response.'