The family of a man who died in the Air India plane crash have said they “want answers” one year on from the disaster.
Kirit Patel, 68, was flying on Air India flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London on 12 June 2025 to spend the summer with his family in Pensford, on the outskirts of Bristol, when the aeroplane crashed shortly after take-off.
Kirit Patel lost his life along with 259 others and his son, Umang Patel, who runs the Post Office in Pensford, said he and his family were still waiting for answers.
“As the families, we want answers and that’s what we are waiting for,” he said.
“We hope the authorities reveal [the findings of the report] soon to bring comfort to the families.”
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India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is in charge of conducting the inquiry.
A preliminary report by the AAIB in July 2025 only raised more questions and sparked a furious backlash.
Umang said he had personally written to the AAIB and the UK Foreign Office asking for more transparency around the inquiry.
He said he and his family were hoping that the final report would finally give them the answers they needed.
“We hope [if they release the report] it will bring us peace,” he said.
“We need to ask the government to pressure the other governments and authorities to reveal the answers.
“That is what the family needs and what they are asking for,” said Umang.
The family said they hoped the release of the full report would give them some answers [BBC]
The AAIB said that investigations were ongoing and that a report would only be released upon its completion.
A total of 241 people died onboard the plane and another 19 were killed on the ground.
One man miraculously survived the disaster and is also calling for answers.
‘Hard to believe’
Kirit Patel had been travelling to the UK to spend the summer with his family.
His wife had died in 2021 and Umang said his father enjoyed his visits to Pensford.
“He grew up in a rural part of India and when he visited us [in Pensford] he felt the same welcoming and the same nature of the village,” said Umang.
“In front of the Post Office there’s a bench where dad used to love sitting and seeing the world pass by and [he would] give little treats to the customers’ dogs,” he said.
“There are particular dogs that still look out for Dad.”
Umang’s wife Vaishali said the shock of losing Kirit was something the family was still coming to terms with.
She said the community in Pensford had been a source of support.
“Dad wasn’t ill or anything – he was coming to us and you never expect anything like this to happen,” said Vaishali.
“It’s still hard to believe that we’ve lost him in that way.
“There’s like a whole other family here for us and they have always made sure we are OK – even if we are low some days, they make sure we’re OK.”
Umang’s sister Bhavika is currently visiting from India with her daughter.
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