UK air accident investigators have touched down in India as heartfelt tributes continue to be paid to those who perished in the Air India tragedy, including a family of three from Gloucester. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off on Thursday, marking one of the most catastrophic aviation incidents involving British citizens.
The plane came down on a medical college hostel in a residential area of Ahmedabad, claiming the lives of 241 out of the 242 individuals aboard. In the central London on Saturday, the fallen were honoured at Trooping the Colour for the King's birthday, which solemnly observed a minute of silence. Participants in the ceremony, including senior royals and officers, donned black armbands as a sign of mourning.
An additional 25 victims were discovered amidst the wreckage by search teams working at the site until Friday evening, according to officials, with uncertainty remaining about whether they were passengers or residents. Dr Dhaval Gameti from the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed to the Associated Press that they have received 270 bodies so far.
The only passenger to survive, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, remains hospitalised for his injuries but is "doing very well and will be ready to be discharged any time soon", Dr Gameti reported.
On Friday night, the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) declared that four of its specialists had landed in India, bringing with them expertise in aircraft operations, engineering, and analysis of recorded data. The statement clarified that the "release of information on the investigation rests solely with the Indian authorities".
The black box flight recorder, a crucial piece for unveiling the details behind the tragic incident, was located atop a building close to where the crash happened. In a bid to assist in the process of identifying those lost, numerous family members have stepped forward to give DNA samples.
The atmosphere was laden with grief at a London vigil held on Saturday as people paid tribute to those who perished in the calamity. Leading figures from Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish faiths presided over the ceremony at Harrow's Siddhashram Shakti Centre, a place of prior worship for 20 of those who died in the disaster.
A family of three from Gloucester were passengers on the flight, confirmed by their relatives. Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee, and their four year old daughter Sara Nanabawa were described as "widely loved and deeply respected".
Ms Vorajee dedicated her time volunteering at a local Islamic school and was also a director of an organisation that fosters understanding of the religion, according to an imam. Mr Nanabawa, who managed Iceberg Recruitment Services with a branch in Ahmedabad, is mentioned on the firm's website as its operator.
Zaheera Nanabawa, speaking from Gloucester on Friday, expressed how her cousin Akeel was the "glue" that connected the family.
"They were away as part of their trip to Singapore and Malaysia, before they went to India," she explained. "This whole news is absolutely shocking and devastating for us, and it will leave a hole within our family."
Imam Abdullah Samad reflected on the tragic loss: "This young family was incredibly close-knit – devoted parents and their beautiful young daughter."
Harrow mayor Anjana Patel also imparted heart-breaking news to the attendees: that two little girls had tragically lost their father in the incident, who himself had been mourning the recent loss of their mother to cancer.
Their father, Arjun Patoliya, had embarked on a journey to his home state of Gujarat with the aim of performing the last rites for his late wife, Bharti. His return to his daughters, children of four and eight, was cut short by the fatal crash.
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Mayor Patel, addressing the gathered crowd, said: "The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer," followed by an audible response of shock from the people.
She continued, relaying the grievous circumstance: "The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans."
Patel then expressed her hope that the community would rally around to support the newly orphaned children: "I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us."
A Derby radiologist, who had developed a newfound affection for fish and chips, was among those on the tragic flight, as reported by the city's Hindu Temple. Dr Prateek Joshi, associated with Royal Derby Hospital and a UK resident since 2021 according to a colleague, was travelling with his family.
Colleague Dr Rajeev Singh shared: "He often entertained colleagues with stories about his passions outside of work, including his newly discovered love of fish and chips and enthusiasm for walking in the Peak District. "It is hard to accept that a man with such a passion for life, and his beautiful young family, have been taken in this way."
The British survivor recalled the chilling experience of witnessing people "dying in front of my eyes". While recovering in hospital on Friday, Mr Ramesh told DD News: "I still can't believe how I survived."
The 40 year old recounted to the broadcaster a harrowing experience, describing how the plane seemed to be "stuck in the air" just after take-off and then the lights started flickering green and white, before he added: "It suddenly slammed into a building and exploded."
Downing Street has confirmed that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is providing consular support to him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India paid a visit to the crash site on Friday, with video footage capturing his conversation with Mr Ramesh at the hospital.
