'Feels Like He'll Walk Through The Door': Year After AI-171 Crash, Kin Battle Grief, Seek Closure

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 08:20 IST

One year after the crash, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is yet to release its final report, leaving families with many unanswered questions

For David Christian, a 72-year-old retired government official from Chandkheda in Ahmedabad, air travel will never be the same again.

A few weeks ago, when he and his elder son travelled to Australia, David made sure they boarded separate flights. The precaution stemmed from a fear he never imagined he would live with—the fear of losing his entire family in an aviation disaster.

David lost his younger son, Rozar Christian, in the Air India AI-171 crash on June 12 last year. Rozar, 37, and his wife Rachna, 36, both worked at a care home in London and were travelling back to the UK when the Boeing 787 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad.

David had accompanied the couple to the airport that day. “I spoke to Rozar at 1.15pm. He told me they had settled into their seats and that the flight was about to take off," David recalled as he sorted through some of his son’s belongings that friends had later sent from London.

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“Just 24 minutes later, I had barely reached home when I heard that a plane had crashed. We rushed back towards the airport and soon learnt that the aircraft had barely taken off when the incident occurred. At the hospital, we realised we had lost both our son and daughter-in-law."

For David’s wife, Sarla, the grief remains as raw as it was a year ago.

The family has removed all photographs of Rozar from the walls of their home because they found themselves talking to his pictures every day. “My son surprised us by coming home from London on June 7 last year," said the 68-year-old, struggling to hold back tears. “Even now, it feels as though he will suddenly walk through the door and surprise us again. For months, we spoke to his photographs every day. Eventually, we took them down and locked them away in a cupboard in his room."

Lives Lost On The Ground

The tragedy was not confined to those onboard the aircraft. At least 16 people on the ground were killed when the aircraft slammed into a medical college hostel building, claiming the lives of aspiring doctors and local residents.

Among them was 14-year-old Akash Patni.

Just minutes before the crash, Akash had delivered lunch to his mother, Sita Ben, who ran a tea stall near the hostel gate. Tired from the afternoon heat, he had fallen asleep on a bench about 300 metres from the crash site.

The disaster unfolded before his mother’s eyes.

“Suddenly, there was a deafening sound and then fire spread across a huge area, burning everything in its path," said Sita Ben, 43. “My first instinct was to look for my son. When I couldn’t find him, I ran around asking for help, but by then it was too late."

Sita herself suffered 30 per cent burn injuries while desperately searching for Akash in the inferno. She is still recovering from those injuries.

Her husband, Suresh Patni, an autorickshaw driver, was ferrying a passenger nearby when he heard the explosion. “When I reached the spot, people told me to go to the hospital," he said. “At the hospital, they directed me to the post-mortem room. The moment they said that, my heart sank. I knew I had already lost my child."

Akash was the youngest of the couple’s five children.

Families Still Searching For Answers

On Thursday evening, several families of crash victims gathered at the crash site to pay tribute to their loved ones.

Yet beyond the grief, a common sentiment united them—a desire for closure.

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One man, who lost his younger brother and sister-in-law in the crash, said the families still want to know who was responsible. “We want closure. This cannot remain an open-ended case," he said. “There has to be accountability. Whoever is responsible must be held accountable."

The Investigation

One year after the crash, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is yet to release its final report, leaving families with many unanswered questions.

Mike Andrews, an attorney representing at least 120 victim families, told News18 that independent simulator tests commissioned by his team had produced significant findings. He also claimed that documents accessed by him pointed to possible electrical issues in the aircraft.

“The deployment of the Ram Air Turbine at such an early stage suggests there was a serious problem with the aircraft," Andrews said. “The RAT can clearly be seen deployed during take-off."

He added that even a year later, he had not received data he had requested from authorities, including information from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder, Cockpit Voice Recorder, accident-site videos and diagrams, as well as engine tear-down data.

Ed Pierson of the Foundation for Aviation Safety, who had previously raised concerns about electrical faults in aircraft VT-ANB, said he had shared his findings with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) but received no response.

“I also shared information with the Indian AAIB, but they too have been unresponsive," Pierson told News18, adding that he had little confidence that investigators would ultimately arrive at a conclusion firmly backed by all available evidence.

CS Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots, held a press conference in Ahmedabad on Thursday, reiterating the organisation’s position that the Boeing 787 involved in the accident may have suffered from significant electrical issues.

The federation was among the first aviation bodies in India to object to suggestions that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal may have been responsible for the crash.

“Since the preliminary report was released, we have consistently maintained that this aircraft had serious electrical problems," he said. “The 787 has faced a range of issues globally, including concerns related to the Ram Air Turbine, batteries and even water ingress into the electronic bay located behind the cockpit."

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He also pointed to delays in the investigation process. “Under ICAO norms, the AAIB is expected to share a draft report with stakeholders at least 30 days before issuing the final report. So far, no draft report has been circulated, which suggests the investigation is still far from completion."

Randhawa cautioned against issuing another interim report. “Another interim report will only create more speculation and confusion. It is better that investigators take the time required and present a comprehensive final report," he said.

He added that the federation, along with the captain’s father Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, has approached the Supreme Court, seeking a judicial probe under Rule 12 of the AAIB Rules.

One Year Later

On Friday, the first anniversary of the crash, families plan to gather once again at the crash site for a candlelight march in memory of those they lost. Many also have meetings scheduled with their lawyers to discuss the next phase of their legal battle.

A year after the tragedy, the grief remains overwhelming. But alongside remembrance, the families are united by another demand—answers, accountability and closure.

About the Author

Anvit Srivastava

Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited jou...Read More

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