Victim’s Wife Seeks Release of Black Box Data One Year After Air India Crash
Vadodara — A year after the Air India Flight AI-171 crash, the wife of victim Mahesh Kalawadia has urged the Union government to release the aircraft’s black box data and ensure the family receives information from Boeing about the tragedy.
The London Gatwick-bound flight crashed into a medical hostel complex in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area shortly after takeoff on June 12 last year. Nearly 260 people were killed, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
Hetal Prajapati, Kalawadia’s wife, told IANS that she had married him about three months before the crash. She said the past year has been extremely difficult and claimed the family has not received adequate support from the government.
“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 said she was also injured in an accident in January and suffered a spinal fracture, leaving her on bed rest for six months.
She said families affected by such aviation accidents should receive answers from the company and authorities within a year.
“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.
Prajapati said the family has received Rs 1.75 crore in compensation, but she appealed to the Union government to release information from the black box and help the family obtain the necessary details from Boeing.
“We should also get the required information from Boeing company,” she said.
She added that the family’s overseas-based lawyer, who specializes in aviation matters, has been explaining the legal aspects of the case.
“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. (Source: IANS)
