'Need to bring my babies home': Kin of Air India plane crash victims slam UK govt over ‘no support'
The kin of a UK family — who died in the doomed Air India flight — have expressed disappointment with the British government, alleging that the British Foreign Office has not extended support to the victims' families, despite there being 53 British nationals on the flight.
Marriam Ali Syed, her husband Javed, and their two children, Zayn, 5, and Amani, 4, were among the 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, which crashed into a doctor's hostel near Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Speaking with The Telegraph, Syed's sister-in-law, Yasmine Hassan, said that Syed, 44, and her family were returning from a vacation in India. She added that Syed worked for the London department store Harrods.
Hassan reportedly told the British newspaper that Sadaf Javed, Syed's older sister who lives in London, wants to travel to Ahmedabad but has not received any support from the UK government.
'My sister-in-law, who is one of the passenger's actual sisters, is saying, 'I need to get to India. I need to get there as soon as possible. I need to bring my babies home',' Hassan said, according to The Telegraph.
On Thursday, Air India said it has set up friends and relatives assistance centres at the Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Gatwick airports 'to provide support and take care of the needs of the families and loved ones of those on flight AI171.'
'These centres are facilitating the travel of family members to Ahmedabad,' the airline's statement continued.
Hassan told The Telegraph that the British Foreign Office hasn't provided any similar support when it comes to flying relatives to Ahmedabad.
'I called the UK Foreign Office to say, 'We've checked online and we can see that Air India has arranged two flights to help people from other parts of India get to Ahmedabad to be with their families. Is the UK doing anything like that?'' Hassan recalled.
Hassan was told by someone at the Foreign Office that they were unaware of any such arrangements.
'So then I asked, 'Is there anyone I can speak to? Someone who might know if they're waiving visa requirements or offering fast-track visas, or if any emergency flights are being put on?' Again, she just said, 'No,'' Hassan added.
She told The Telegraph that she understands why British government officials may not have all the answers yet, acknowledging that such situations take time. However, she expressed anger over what she sees as a clear lack of support from the government.
'We really think people need to know that we've had no support – and they're British citizens. Yet no one from the Government has contacted us to ask, 'Can we do anything to help?'' Hassan said.
Meanwhile, around 200 relatives of the crash victims have provided DNA samples at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to aid in the identification process, according to reports by CNN and The New York Times.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
5 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Fast probe required: Crash investigation should be quick and credible
It should be noted that Air India itself, while troubled on several dimensions, has not had a major fatality due to a crash (as distinct from terrorist action) since Boeing 707 crash-landed in Mumbai Business Standard Editorial Comment Mumbai Listen to This Article The tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 shortly after it took off from Ahmedabad has brought attention back to the airline, the regulators, and the broader state of civil aviation in India. Very little is known for certain about what caused the aircraft's failure to achieve the required thrust and the eventual crash into a medical hostel 2 km from the runway. It would be wise to wait for the crash-investigation report rather than indulging in speculation. It is also important that this investigation be transparently conducted by the relevant authorities and its report released in a timely fashion.
Economic Times
20 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Divine delays: How seven lives dodged the Air India disaster
On June 12th, fate intervened for seven individuals scheduled to board Air India Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London, which tragically crashed. A mother's plea, visa issues, a sudden feeling of unease, traffic delays, and business obligations all conspired to keep them off the ill-fated flight, unknowingly saving their lives from impending disaster. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A mother's tears Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Turned away at the gate A feeling he couldn't name Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Stopped by the streets The business that bought time A seat deferred Fate doesn't always arrive with a thunderclap. Sometimes, it slips quietly into our lives—a mother's trembling voice, an unexpected traffic jam, a phone call made without reason. On June 12, seven people who were meant to be aboard Air India Flight 171 discovered just how loud a whisper from destiny can be, reported flight, which was to take off from Ahmedabad en route to London, never made it. And for these would-be passengers, a twist of timing, intuition, or sheer inconvenience became the line between life and to the report, Yaman Vyas had everything ready. After two years working in the UK, the warehouse employee was concluding a long-overdue visit to his family in Vadodara. His return ticket to London was confirmed, his documents in order, and his bags as he prepared to leave for the airport, his mother broke down. 'Thhoda divas rokai jaa ne, beta,' she voice, heavy with emotion, cut through his resolve. His father quietly echoed her plea. In that moment, Yaman made a snap decision—he cancelled his that day, the news broke. 'My phone started buzzing with messages about the crash. I just stood there, stunned. My mother's tears had saved my life.'For Jaimin Patel, 29, and Priya Patel, 25, their flight to London was meant to mark the start of a joyful vacation with a friend abroad, TOI noted. Their visas were sorted, their bags packed, said the news outlet. But when they reached the Air India check-in counter, things staff flagged discrepancies in their paperwork. Without clearance, they couldn't issue boarding couple pleaded, insisting there wasn't time to resolve the issue before departure. The staff refused to budge. 'We begged them,' Jaimin said. 'We were so angry, so frustrated. We just wanted to board the plane.'After a tense hour at the airport, they returned home— the phone rang.'A friend said, 'Turn on the TV—now.' When I saw the news, I couldn't breathe. That plane we were desperate to board… it had crashed. I've never been so thankful for being denied something," she told Timbadia had seat 1A reserved, TOI reported. His bags were packed, his mind set on visiting his son in London. But early that morning, a quiet discomfort crept in. There was no panic, no warning—just picked up the phone and called his son. 'I said I wouldn't be coming. I didn't feel like flying today,' he recalled. 'He asked why, but I had no answer. I just felt off," he told he later turned on the television, his inexplicable hesitation made perfect sense. 'I realised what that feeling meant. Lord Swaminarayan saved me.'Bhoomi Chauhan was running late. Ahmedabad's infamous traffic had thrown her journey to the airport into chaos. Detours, bottlenecks, jams—by the time she arrived, it was 12:20 p.m. The boarding gates had closed at 12: pleaded with the staff. They were and angry, Bhoomi turned around and began the long journey back to Bharuch. Minutes later, the crash was all over the news.'I couldn't believe it. Ten minutes of traffic changed everything. I was leaving my son behind in India—I think Ganpati Bappa kept me back.'Jayesh Thakkar is known in Vadodara as the man behind some of the city's biggest garba events. He had every intention of boarding AI 171. But business took him to Kolkata, and delays there made it impossible to return in time.'I realised I wouldn't make it, so I rebooked for later,' he said. That logistical hiccup—frustrating at the time—turned out to be a life-saving Patel had been through enough, noted TOI. In May, he lost his daughter Bharti to cancer. Her husband, Arjun Patoliya, was flying back to their daughters—ages 8 and 4—in London, after completing her final asked Ravji to come along, to help him cope, to see the girls. 'He wanted me to come, but I had work here,' Ravji said softly. 'I promised I'd fly out in two weeks. He agreed," he told the news barely 20 days after losing his daughter, Ravji was left to mourn his son-in-law too.
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- India Gazette
Air India Express Kolkata-Hindon flight delayed due to
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 15 (ANI): Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India, on Sunday confirmed that its flight from Kolkata to Uttar Pradesh's Hindon was delayed on Sunday after the aircraft developed a 'snag' An Air India Express spokesperson told ANI, 'Our Kolkata - Hindon flight operated, with a delay, due to a snag on the originally assigned aircraft. Guests were offered complimentary rescheduling or cancellation with a full refund. We regret the inconvenience.' The airline did not specify the nature of the technical problem but ensured the flight operated after necessary arrangements were made. Meanwhile, following a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandating enhanced safety checks on Air India's Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet, the airline on Saturday stated that inspections on nine out of its 33 Dreamliner aircraft had been completed. The remaining 24 aircraft are on track to be inspected within the timeline provided by the civil aviation regulator. In a post on X, an Air India spokesperson stated that the safety inspections are being conducted as the 787 fleet returns to India, with each aircraft undergoing thorough evaluations before being cleared for its next operation. The move came following the tragic crash of the London-bound AI171 flight that rammed into a doctors' hostel of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area in Gujarat's Ahmedabad seconds after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. The DGCA on Friday directed Air India to immediately carry out the additional maintenance actions on its B787-8/9 aircraft equipped with Genx engines in coordination with the concerned regional DGCA offices. 'Air India is in the process of completing the one-time safety checks directed by the Indian aviation regulator, DGCA. These checks are being carried out on the Boeing 787 fleet as they return to India, before being cleared for their next operations. Air India has completed such checks on nine of the Boeing 787 aircraft and are on track to complete this process for the remaining 24 aircraft within the timeline provided by the regulator,' Air India stated. Acknowledging potential disruptions, Air India warned that some checks might lead to increased turnaround times and possible delays, particularly on long-haul routes to airports with operating curfews. The airline has also offered e-funds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling for those impacted by the disruptions. 'Some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround times and potential delays on certain long-haul routes, especially those to airports with operating curfews. Customers will be duly notified about any customers affected by this disruption, refunds on cancellation or complimentary rescheduling are being offered to those who opt for it,' the airline added. As per the directive, Air India has been asked to conduct a few one-time checks before the departure of flights from India starting Sunday. The tests include inspection of Fuel Parameter Monitoring and associated system checks; inspection of cabin air compressor and associated systems; Electronic Engine Control System Test; Engine Fuel Driven Actuator-Operational Test and oil system check; serviceability check of Hydraulic system; and Review of Take-off parameters. Besides, Air India has been asked to introduce 'Flight Control Inspection' in transit inspection till further notice. Further, power assurance checks must be carried out within two weeks. DGCA has also asked the Tata Group-owned airline to close maintenance actions as soon as possible, based on the review of repetitive snags on B787-8/9 aircraft during the last 15 days. The regulator told Air India that all the reports of these checks are to be submitted to the DGCA for review. (ANI)
