As the first anniversary of the Air India Flight AI-171 disaster approaches, Hetal Prajapati — widow of crash victim Mahesh Kalawadia — has urged the Union government to make the aircraft's black box data public and press Boeing, the plane's manufacturer, for a formal accounting of what went wrong. The appeal comes ahead of 12 June, marking one year since the crash that killed nearly 260 people in Ahmedabad.

What Happened on 12 June Last Year

The London Gatwick-bound Air India Flight AI-171 crashed into a medical hostel complex in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area shortly after take-off on 12 June. The accident claimed nearly 260 lives, making it one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in recent memory and triggering widespread calls for a transparent investigation.

A Widow's Plea: No Data, No Answers

Hetal Prajapati, who had married Mahesh Kalawadia just three months before the crash, said the family has received no substantive response from the government or from Boeing in the year since. 'The government only keeps consoling us that they will provide medical support or financial support, but nothing of that sort has taken place. I was told to be career-oriented but so far, I have not received a response on any of the emails,' she said.

Prajapati noted that under standard aviation protocols, the concerned company and authorities are expected to respond to families within a year of such an incident. 'But today is June 11, and still we have not received any information on the black box data or about any mistake on part of the Boeing company,' she said.

Personal Hardship and Financial Compensation

The past year has compounded Prajapati's grief with physical hardship. She suffered a spinal fracture in an accident in January, leaving her on bedrest for six months. The family has received a total of ₹1.75 crore as compensation, according to her account — but she stressed that financial relief cannot substitute for the factual transparency the families are seeking.

Legal Support and Ongoing Investigation

Prajapati said the family is being guided by an advocate based abroad who specialises in aviation law. 'We don't have much knowledge about airlines but he is a specialist in aviation matters so we are getting to know about a lot of things like the probable reasons which might have caused the incident,' she said. The family is seeking both the flight data recorder findings and a formal response from Boeing on any manufacturing or maintenance lapses that may have contributed to the crash.

What the Families Want Next

Prajapati's central demand is the public release of black box data and direct communication from Boeing to the affected families — disclosures that, she argues, are overdue by aviation standards. This comes amid broader scrutiny of Boeing's safety record globally, with regulators in multiple countries reviewing the manufacturer's aircraft in the wake of several high-profile incidents. As the one-year mark arrives, the families of the nearly 260 victims await answers that have yet to come.