London-Based Indian Man Dies in Air India Crash After Fulfilling Wife’s Final Wish

A UK-based Indian man who had traveled to Gujarat to fulfill his late wife’s last wish was among the 265 people who tragically lost their lives in Thursday’s devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad — one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory.

Arjun Manubhai Patolia, 36, had returned to his ancestral village of Vadiya in Amreli district to immerse his wife Bharatiben’s ashes in the Narmada River, honoring her final request. Bharatiben had passed away just a week earlier in London, and before she died, she had asked Arjun to bring her ashes back to her motherland.

After completing the funeral rites with family in Vadiya, Arjun was planning to return to the UK to be with their two young daughters, aged 4 and 8, who had remained there. On Thursday, he boarded Air India flight AI171 bound for London’s Gatwick Airport — but tragedy struck shortly after takeoff.

“He had a ticket on Air India flight AI171. He was supposed to go to London, but the accident happened,” said Krish Jagdish Patolia, Arjun’s nephew, as per reports.

Flight AI171 crashed minutes after leaving Ahmedabad airport. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner lost altitude and crashed into a medical college hostel in a residential area. Videos captured the plane struggling to gain lift before it erupted into flames upon impact.

There were 230 passengers on board — including 169 Indians and 53 British nationals — along with 12 crew members. Only one person survived the crash.

“It’s heartbreaking. We have lost both of them in one week,” Krish said, mourning the loss of both Arjun and Bharatiben.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. Forensic teams are examining the site, and aviation authorities have launched a formal inquiry. Air India has not yet commented on the cause but assured that support is being provided to the affected families.

Shockwaves through communities lingers in both India and the UK, with many diaspora families grieving the sudden and devastating loss of loved ones.