Tragic Wait for Families of Air India Crash Victims Intensifies

In the aftermath of the tragic Air India 171 crash, families of the victims are grappling with profound grief and a painful delay in retrieving the remains of their loved ones. Pooja Patel, 28, and her husband Harshit Patel, 33, were among the 270 fatalities when the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plummeted shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, on June 15, 2025. The couple had been visiting their families in India from Leicester, UK, where Pooja had been pursuing her business master's degree before securing employment at Amazon alongside Harshit.

The crash has devastated their families, particularly as they await identification of the remains. According to Dr. Ravi Sharma, Chief Forensic Officer at the Gujarat State Forensic Science Laboratory, the identification process is complex due to the condition of the bodies. "Many of the remains are charred beyond recognition, and forensic teams are working tirelessly to match DNA samples to the victims' families," Dr. Sharma said in a statement on June 16, 2025.

Despite the ongoing efforts, only 47 out of the hundreds of deceased have been identified, leading to a growing sense of anguish among the families, particularly Pooja's mother, Chandra Mate. "We are heartbroken. We just want to cremate them together as per our customs," she expressed during a press conference held on June 18, 2025.

The couple’s relatives have invested significant resources into their education and relocation, making their successful lives in the UK a source of pride in their community. Pooja's sister, Aarti Atul Mukture, shared, "Pooja was a beacon of hope for our family. She always talked about her dreams and aspirations. This tragedy is incomprehensible."

As authorities continue their investigation into the crash, aviation experts are also analyzing the technical failures that led to the accident. According to an initial report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) dated June 17, 2025, the aircraft experienced a critical failure shortly after takeoff, prompting the emergency call from the cockpit. The final report is expected to take several months to complete.

The emotional toll on the families is compounded by the logistics of retrieving the remains. As they anticipate receiving the bodies, the families have been informed that they will likely receive them in kits rather than traditional coffins, due to the extent of the damage. Anil Patel, Harshit’s father, stated, "We will only cremate them together. They were inseparable in life, and we cannot bear to part them in death."

The community in Ambika Nagar, where the Patels lived before moving to the UK, has rallied around the grieving families, offering support during this harrowing time. "Pooja and Harshit were known and loved by everyone here. It feels like we have all lost a part of ourselves," a neighbor remarked on June 19, 2025.

As investigations proceed and the families continue to seek closure, the broader implications of this tragedy raise questions about aviation safety standards and the emotional impact of such disasters on close-knit communities. The Air India crash is not only a personal loss for the families involved but also a reminder of the vulnerabilities associated with air travel.

Looking ahead, the families of the victims urge the authorities to expedite the identification process. "We want answers; we want to bring our children home," Chandra Mate concluded, her voice breaking with emotion. The road to healing will be long and fraught with challenges, but the love and memory of Pooja and Harshit will endure in the hearts of those they left behind.