Air India crash families demand answers from PM
Miten Patel urges Prime Minister Andy Burnham to investigate "catastrophic handling" of victims' remains.
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Miten Patel, whose parents Ashok and Shobhana Patel were among the 260 people killed in the Air India Flight AI171 crash, has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham demanding action. The flight crashed shortly after departing Ahmedabad Airport in India for Gatwick on 12 June 2025. One passenger survived the incident.
Patel stated that families have faced "institutional silence" for 15 months. He detailed personal distress upon learning via UK post-mortem CT scans that his mother's casket contained another person's remains. He also cited the case of the Greenlaw-Meek family, who were reportedly sent the wrong bodies.
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Call for Accountability
In an open letter to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, Patel urged Mr Burnham to demonstrate the same commitment to truth and accountability that he showed to the Hillsborough disaster families. Patel wrote: "I ask you to bring that same determination to truth and accountability to the victims of Air India Flight AI171 and their families."
Patel also called for the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch to conduct a formal inquiry into the crash itself, alongside a bilateral investigation into the alleged mishandling of victims' remains. The BBC London reported that the Foreign Office stated it continues to support families needing assistance through dedicated consular caseworkers and remains in contact with Indian authorities.
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Indian authorities hold responsibility for the investigation into the crash and the formal identification of the deceased due to the location of the incident. The Foreign Office reiterated its thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of the victims.
Questions this report answers
+What happened to Air India Flight AI171?
Air India Flight AI171 crashed shortly after departing Ahmedabad Airport in India for Gatwick on 12 June 2025, resulting in the deaths of 260 people. One passenger survived the incident.
+What are the families demanding?
Families are demanding an investigation into the "catastrophic handling" of victims' remains, citing issues such as commingled remains and the delivery of incorrect bodies. They are calling for accountability and truth regarding the incident and its aftermath.
+What is the UK government's response?
The UK Foreign Office stated that its thoughts are with the victims' families and that it continues to provide support through dedicated consular caseworkers. The government remains in contact with Indian authorities regarding the situation.
+Who is investigating the crash?
Indian authorities are responsible for the official investigation into the crash and the formal identification of the bodies, as the incident occurred after departure from Ahmedabad Airport. Miten Patel has also called for a UK inquiry.
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