The United Kingdom is reeling from shock and profound grief following the Air India Flight 171 crash on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad, India, to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of 241 people. Among the passengers were 53 British nationals. The disaster has plunged families into mourning and left communities struggling to comprehend the scale of the tragedy.
News of the crash spread rapidly, triggering an outpouring of sorrow and disbelief across the UK. Many families had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of loved ones, only to be met with devastating news. "I didn't really believe it," said Nayan Kumar Ramesh, brother of sole survivor Viswashkumar Ramesh and also brother to Ajay Kumar Ramesh who was on the flight and is now presumed dead, in an interview with Sky News. The Ramesh family is experiencing the conflicting emotions of elation and grief. Nayan reported that Viswashkumar spoke to their father both before takeoff and after surviving the crash. Viswashkumar's words to his brother after the crash were "I don't know where my brother is; I don't see any other passengers. I don't know how I'm alive, how I exited the plane".
The BBC reported the heartbreaking stories of families who lost multiple members in the crash. Ashok and Shobhana Patel, a couple from Orpington, Kent, were returning home to their two sons, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren after visiting India. Miten Patel, their eldest son, shared that his parents had spoken to him and his daughter Amyra while waiting for their flight, expressing their excitement to see their grandchildren again. "We were so fortunate and so proud to have been given them as our parents," Miten said, "we will miss them every day and make sure the kids remember the good times with Baa and Dada."
Another family, the Nanabawas from Gloucester, were also among the British nationals who perished in the crash. Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, and their young daughter Sara were on a surprise trip to India. In a statement, their family expressed their devastation, saying, "We are still coming to terms with the enormity of what has happened."
The sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, 40, is currently receiving treatment in an Ahmedabad hospital. Speaking from his hospital bed, he recounted the terrifying moments leading up to the crash. He told DD News that the lights inside the aircraft "started flickering" shortly after takeoff, and within seconds, the plane felt "stuck in the air" before slamming into a building and exploding. Ramesh miraculously escaped through an opening in the fuselage, a detail he remembers clearly.
The crash has prompted widespread শোক and reflection across the UK. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India visited Viswashkumar in the hospital and also the crash site. The British Foreign Office has set up helplines for British nationals in the UK and India, offering consular assistance and support to those affected by the tragedy. A spokesperson confirmed they have been in contact with Mr. Ramesh, and said: "Our consular staff are ready to support families of British Nationals who were on board Air India flight AI171."
As investigations into the cause of the crash get underway, the focus remains on supporting the grieving families and communities. The recovery of a black box from the crash site offers a glimmer of hope for answers, but for now, the UK mourns the lives lost and stands in solidarity with those who are suffering.
