From a daughter’s convocation celebration to a long-awaited family Eid reunion, heart-wrenching stories emerge after Air India flight AI171 crashes, killing 251 people.
Ahmedabad | June 14, 2025:
The crash of Air India flight AI171 on Thursday has left behind a trail of unimaginable grief, cutting across borders, families, and generations. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed moments after takeoff into a doctors’ hostel in the BJ Medical College complex, killing at least 251 people, including passengers, crew, and people on the ground.
Among the most heartbreaking stories is that of Dhavni Patel, a 21-year-old student in the UK whose parents had planned to surprise her by arriving early for her convocation. Rajnikant Patel, Divyaben Rajnikant, and her maternal aunt Hemangi Ben changed their travel plans to spend more time with her. Tragically, only the news of their deaths reached her.
The family, from Vasad in Gujarat, was preparing for what should have been a proud and joyful milestone. Now, Dhavni’s cousin Parth Patel, who lost his father eight months ago, is left to cope with yet another devastating loss. Anand MP Mitesh Patel visited the bereaved family, offering his condolences.
Also Reas: Air India Plane Crash LIVE Updates: All 242 People On Board Feared Dead!
In another tragedy, Javed, a British citizen of Indian origin, was returning to London after a rare family reunion for Eid al-Adha. The 37-year-old, along with his wife Maryam, and their two children—aged five and four—were all killed in the crash. It was the first time in 15 years that all siblings had reunited with their mother, who is now unaware she has lost her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren in one devastating incident.
Javed’s brother Imtiaz, speaking from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital where DNA samples were being collected, said, “We were searching every hospital, hoping it was all a mistake. But we’re being told the bodies are charred beyond recognition.”
Then there’s the story of Arjun Patolia, a London resident who had come to Gujarat to fulfill his late wife’s last wish of immersing her ashes in her ancestral village. He died on his way back, leaving behind two daughters, aged eight and four, who lost both parents in the span of a month.
The tragic flight had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian on board, along with 12 crew members. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also among the victims.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the site, stated that the final death count would only be confirmed after DNA testing is completed. Forensic teams have been directed to fast-track the process.
Air India and Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran described it as “one of the darkest days in the Tata Group’s history,” saying, “To lose a single person we know is a tragedy, but for so many deaths to occur at once is incomprehensible.”
Tags:
Ahmedabad plane crash, Air India AI171, Dhavni Patel, Javed family Eid reunion, Arjun Patolia, India UK flight tragedy, Tata Sons, Vijay Rupani death, aviation disaster India, DNA testing victims, BJ Medical College crash, Air India Dreamliner, Amit Shah Ahmedabad crash, emotional plane crash stories