Air India announced on Monday that it has begun the process of returning personal belongings to the families of victims from the tragic AI-171 crash. This comes seven months after the disaster that claimed 260 lives, marking India's worst aviation accident in nearly three decades.
Cataloguing and Returning Items
An Air India spokesperson revealed that the airline has carefully preserved and catalogued approximately 22,000 personal items recovered from the crash site. These belongings have been documented on a dedicated online portal created specifically for this purpose.
Of these items, around 8,000 have been successfully linked to specific individuals and are currently listed as "associated." The remaining 14,000 items are categorized as "un-associated" and await identification by family members.
Respectful and Dignified Process
"Air India is handling this process with utmost respect, dignity, and accuracy," the spokesperson told PTI. "Working closely with a qualified external partner, our teams have spent considerable time cataloguing and documenting recoverable and returnable items."
The return exercise officially began on January 5 and will continue through mid-February. Air India has been communicating with affected families through email and the dedicated website, ensuring they receive proper information about the process.
"Once families confirm the details, the belongings will be handed over physically in a manner that honours their grief and privacy," the spokesperson emphasized. Several families have already collected items that belonged to their loved ones.
Options for Families
For the 8,000 "associated" belongings, Air India has sent detailed emails to concerned families. These communications include photographs and descriptions of each recovered item. Families are presented with three clear options:
- Decline possession of the items
- Collect them in person from a facilitation centre in Ahmedabad
- Have Air India send the items via courier service
For the remaining 14,000 "un-associated" items, Air India has established a separate portal. Families can either collect these items personally in Ahmedabad or request courier delivery according to their preference.
Recovered Personal Items
The personal belongings recovered from the crash site include various everyday items that tell poignant stories:
- A toy airplane and a toy car
- A wristwatch and plastic bangles
- A sweater and a pair of shoes
- A half-burnt page from a book containing the famous Gujarati prayer "Mangal Mandir Kholo"
- Handbags and other personal effects
Remembering the Tragedy
The AI-171 disaster occurred on June 12 last year when the Air India flight, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft struck a medical college hostel complex and burst into flames.
The crash resulted in 241 fatalities among the 242 people onboard, along with 19 individuals on the ground. This tragic event represents the most severe aviation disaster India has witnessed in nearly thirty years.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, working to determine the exact causes and contributing factors.
