A heartbroken father flying home to his children after fulfilling his late wife’s final wish has died in a tragic plane crash in India.
He was returning to London on Air India flight AI-171 when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing him and others on board. The Gatwick-bound flight was carrying 242 passengers, including 53 British nationals, before the crash happened.
Just a week earlier, Bharatiben had passed away in London. Her final request was that her ashes be returned to her birthplace in India. Arjun honored that wish, traveling alone to her village to carry out the traditional rites.
After completing the emotional ceremonies with relatives, he was on his way back to the UK to reunite with their daughters, aged four and eight. Now, the two girls are left orphaned within the span of a single devastating week.
The Narmada River, where Arjun performed the rituals, holds deep spiritual significance in Hinduism. For many, immersing ashes in its waters is believed to purify the soul and bring peace to the departed.
Public reaction to the tragedy has been swift and emotional, reflecting growing anger over what many consider an inadequate response to a preventable tragedy.
One user on X wrote, “Is that all you value a life for? just one crore? Do you think money is going to make it better? [sic].”
Another added, “Your apology Means nothing. The families who lost their Loved One’s can’t come back now, only because of you TATA. Properly Check every Aeroplane Before sending to Fly. [sic].”
Others questioned legal compliance: “But as per Montreal convention they should pay 1.5cr+ to victim families……why are they offering less?? [sic]”
Another added, “Keep ur 1 cr with you .. its not equal to lives lost [sic].” While many focused on the lives of those lost, some were concerned for the survivors of the crash.“What about the person who is survived? Only hospital bills ? [sic]” a user asked.
Some added that the announcement was a shallow PR move, “Wow pathetic company. The legal limit for compensation is much higher than what you are providing. Air india and tata need to be investigated and people need to be put behind bars. Nice pr stunt.[sic]”
Others noted that many passengers were financially well-off, arguing that no amount could ever replace a life, “1 cr is not a big amount for most people who were on that flight. Most of them could afford to fly there and live there. Honestly no amount of money is enough when it comes to a life.[sic]”
Still, amid the outrage, a few messages expressed the sorrow of the moment, “Respect 🙏”
Meanwhile, another family was torn apart on the same doomed flight — two brothers seated just feet apart, but only one made it out alive.
Ajaykumar Ramesh, 35, and his brother Viswash, 40, had just finished their business trip in India and were returning to the UK. They boarded Air India’s Ahmedabad-to-Gatwick flight On Thursday, unaware of the tragedy that lay ahead. They took their seats with Ajay settling in 11J and Viswash across the aisle in 11A, near the emergency exit.
Then came the crash.
Viswash, seated in 11A near the emergency exit, lived through what investigators now call a catastrophic crash. His brother Ajay, just across the aisle in seat 11J, did not as flames consumed the cabin. Viswash, bloodied and disoriented, was pulled from the wreckage.
Back in Leicester, their family is caught between disbelief and grief. Their mother, too distraught to speak, remains surrounded by relatives offering comfort. Their youngest brother, Nayankumar, described the surreal moment they received the call.
“It’s a miracle at least one of them survived,” he stated. “He said his plane had crashed and he couldn’t find anyone. We couldn’t believe it. There was blood running down his face.”
Air India confirmed the grim reality late Thursday night: of the 242 people aboard flight AI171, only one survived. That sole survivor was Viswash. Ajaykumar was not among them.
For hours, the family clung to hope. They believed Ajay might have been rushed to a different hospital, his name missed in the confusion.
Nayankumar had said earlier that they were “so confused” but still hoped his brother had somehow made it out alive. When asked how the family was coping with the ordeal — one brother surviving while another was lost — Nayankumar motioned to their mother, Manibai Ramesh. She was too overwhelmed to speak, her sobs filling the silence.
Ajaykumar and Viswash had traveled to India on business tied to their family’s ventures. Viswash had previously served as director of RMV Fashion, a Leicester-based textile company that closed in 2022.
The first signs of life came when Viswash called home. He told relatives he had fled the burning aircraft and was safe, though injured. The call brought a wave of relief — but also deepened the fear for Ajay, who never got in touch.
Their cousin, Ajay Valgi, also from Leicester, shared his anguish. He described Ajaykumar not just as a cousin, but as one of his closest friends. “They were sitting next to each other,” he said. “But we don’t know what happened to Ajay.” The family is still reeling. “We’re not doing well,” he added. “We’re all upset.”
We previously reported that the devastating tragedy unfolded in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight AI-171 crashed shortly after takeoff, leaving the nation in shock and sorrow. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew members, was en route to London Gatwick when it suddenly encountered trouble.
The distress call, which is internationally recognized and must be repeated three times for clarity and priority handling — “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” — marked the pilot’s final communication before the plane vanished from radar. Despite repeated efforts from ATC to reconnect, there was no further response from the cockpit, as confirmed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The plane crash site erupted in flames and was soon engulfed in thick, black smoke that towered over the city skyline. Emergency response teams rushed to the scene immediately, launching a rescue operation amid the wreckage.
The term “Mayday” itself has a poignant origin. Coined in the early 1920s by Frederick Stanley Mockford, a radio officer at London’s Croydon Airport, it is derived from the French phrase “m’aider,” which means “help me.”
Alongside the Morse code “SOS” signal, the International Radiotelegraph Convention adopted the term as the standard voice distress call for both aircraft and vessels around the world by 1927.
Aviation professionals rely on Mayday calls to signal the most critical emergencies in flight, including engine failures, structural malfunctions, fires, severe weather conditions, or serious medical incidents onboard. Mayday is different from less severe distress calls like “Pan-pan,” which address technical problems that don’t immediately endanger lives.
When a pilot issues a Mayday call, they typically provide key details, including the aircraft’s identification, location, nature of the emergency, number of people on board, remaining fuel, and the type of assistance required.
This structured format enables air traffic controllers and emergency responders to act swiftly and effectively. Once a Mayday call is received, all non-urgent radio communications are halted, giving the distressed aircraft absolute priority.
ATC then coordinates with emergency services, other aircraft, and nearby airports to provide full support. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also advises pilots to provide specific details such as weather conditions, altitude, and flight intentions to enhance the effectiveness of rescue efforts.
In the case of the recent Ahmedabad crash, the crew’s swift and accurate Mayday call was a vital step in following emergency protocols.
Though the outcome was tragic, with no known survivors, the transmission offered valuable information for investigators and emergency services, highlighting the professionalism of the flight crew even in the most perilous moments.
Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames engulfing the wreckage of Air India Flight AI-171, which had been fully fueled shortly before its takeoff and catastrophic crash. Water was also sprayed on surrounding multistory buildings, one of which bore the plane’s tail cone still lodged near its rooftop, stabilizer fins visibly damaged.
Addressing the tragedy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his heartbreak in a public statement, calling the scenes from the crash “devastating.”
Similarly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “heartbreaking beyond words,” extending his sympathies to all those affected.
Now, as Arjun’s daughters and the Ramesh family face an unthinkable loss, public scrutiny grows, not just over compensation, but over accountability and justice.
