Families of Air India Crash Victims Call for Immediate Release of Flight Recorders
On Friday, families affected by the tragic Air India crash from June expressed their urgent demand for the release of the flight’s two flight recorders. They believe the ongoing delays are undermining their confidence in the investigation.
The June 12 incident involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which tragically crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, heading to London. A total of 241 people on the plane lost their lives, along with 19 others on the ground.
A preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau revealed that fuel supply to the jet’s engines was cut off just before the crash. Although the report did not assign blame, it included details from the cockpit voice recording indicating a discussion between the pilots regarding the fuel cut.
Imtiaz Ali Sayed, a relative of several victims, stated, “We demand the immediate release of the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder. These devices hold crucial information that can help uncover the truth about this tragic event.” Sayed, who lost his younger brother, his sister-in-law, and their two children, emphasized that he was speaking on behalf of 60 families facing the same grief and uncertainty.
“Not having answers every day deepens our sorrow and diminishes public trust in aviation safety,” he added.
Some families are considering legal action against Air India and Boeing, the aircraft’s manufacturer. Mike Andrews, an attorney from the US-based Beasley Allen Law Firm, met with relatives in Vadodara, south of Ahmedabad, after visiting the crash site. He explained that if the flight recorders reveal any issues with the aircraft, there could be grounds for a defective product claim in the United States.
The families continue to seek clarity and justice in the face of this heartbreaking loss.
