Nearly one year after the Air India crash that took place shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, the pain remains raw for many families. The crash killed 242 people, with only one survivor.
Imtiyaz Ali lost his brother Javed, his sister in law Mariam, and their two children in the tragedy. The family had built a life in the United Kingdom but often visited Mumbai to stay connected with relatives.
Even after many months, Imtiyaz says the absence still feels unreal. He explains that returning to places once shared with his brother now brings a strong sense of emotional discomfort. The home feels changed, as if something important is still missing yet present at the same time.
Emotional weight that does not fade
Imtiyaz recalls how his thinking has shifted since the crash. In the early days after the accident, he held on to hope that felt difficult to let go of. Over time, that hope changed into silence and acceptance, but not peace.
He describes the situation as a state of mental confusion that does not end. There is no closure, only waiting for answers that have not yet come.
His mother, Farida Bano, also continues to feel the loss deeply. She often speaks about how the memory of her son feels constant in daily life, as if his presence still follows her in ordinary moments.
Investigations and unanswered questions
The crash of Air India Flight AI 171 remains under investigation. The aircraft lost thrust shortly after leaving Ahmedabad for London, coming down less than a minute after takeoff.
Authorities are expected to release a final report in the coming weeks. Families are still waiting for clear answers about what caused the tragedy. The possibilities under review include technical failure, human error, or a combination of factors.
For many relatives, the lack of explanation has made grief more difficult. Without clarity, they are left in an emotional space that feels suspended between memory and reality.
Living in emotional limbo
Imtiyaz says the hardest part is not only the loss itself but the uncertainty that follows it. He describes it as living without a clear ending to the story.
The waiting continues, and so does the search for understanding. For families, each new update from investigators carries hope that final answers may finally bring some form of closure.
