Families of British Air India crash victims 'feel utterly abandoned' and hit out at government

The families of three of the British victims of last week's Air India crash in Ahmedabad have criticised the UK government's response to the disaster, saying they "feel utterly abandoned".

It comes after an Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport in western India, killing 229 passengers and 12 crew. One person on the flight survived.

Among the passengers and crew on the Gatwick-bound aircraft were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national.

In a statement, the families of three British citizens who lost their lives said they were calling on the UK government to "immediately step up its presence and response on the ground in Ahmedabad".

The families said they rushed to India to be by their loved ones' sides, "only to find a disjointed, inadequate, and painfully slow government reaction".

"There is no UK leadership here, no medical team, no crisis professionals stationed at the hospital," said a family spokesperson.

"We are forced to make appointments to see consular staff based 20 minutes away in a hotel, while our loved ones lie unidentified in an overstretched and under-resourced hospital.

"We're not asking for miracles - we're asking for presence, for compassion, for action," another family member said.

"Right now, we feel utterly abandoned."

Read more:
Who are some of the crash victims?
Survivor recounts moments before impact

The families listed a number of what they called "key concerns", including a "lack of transparency and oversight in the identification and handling of remains".

They also demanded a "full crisis team" at the hospital within 24 hours, a British-run identification unit, and financial support for relatives of the victims.

A local doctor had "confirmed" the delays in releasing the bodies were "linked to severe understaffing", according to the families, who also called for an independent inquiry into the UK government's response.

"Our loved ones were British citizens. They deserved better in life. They certainly deserve better in death," the statement added.

A Foreign Ofiice spokesperson said: "Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash.

"We have set up a Reception Centre at the Ummed Hotel, near the Ahmedabad airport, and have a dedicated helpline to provide support and advice for the families and friends of British nationals - friends or family should call 020 7008 5000.

"If you are in India, you should call +91 (11) 24192100 for support, including through in-person consular staff who are available to support families of British nationals, including accompanying them to the hospital.

"Furthermore, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch has deployed an investigation team to support the Indian led investigation on the ground, and UK forensic experts are there to support the consular response."

Families and friends of the victims have already expressed their anger and frustration - mostly aimed at the authorities in India - over the lack of information.

(c) Sky News 2025: Families of British Air India crash victims 'feel utterly abandoned' and hit out at go