“We don't want money, we just want to know what happened," says Nilesh Purohit, who lost his 24-year-old son in the crash

Ten months after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 that claimed 260 lives, families of the victims have written to Narendra Modi seeking the release of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder details. The families say access to this data is crucial to understand the cause of the disaster and find closure.

The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, en route to London, crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025, hitting a medical college hostel complex. The crash killed 241 of the 242 people onboard, along with 19 individuals on the ground.

Around 30 families from across Gujarat gathered in Ahmedabad and jointly submitted a letter urging authorities to either make the black box data public or share it privately with the victims’ families. They stressed the need to know whether technical issues or other factors led to the tragedy.

Family members expressed deep emotional distress, stating that financial compensation cannot replace the loss. They highlighted the emotional void left behind and the urgent need for transparency from authorities regarding the cause of the crash.

Concerns were also raised over difficulties in retrieving personal belongings and poor communication systems. Families said the online portal lacks clarity and responses are delayed, making the process even more distressing. Officials indicated that the final investigation report is expected around June, near the first anniversary of the crash.

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