US Shutdown Pushes Back Legal Action Over Deadly Ahmedabad Air India Crash, Families Of 260 Victims Left Waiting For Justice

The ongoing United States government shutdown has stalled legal proceedings initiated by the families of victims in the June 12 Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The American law firm Beasley Allen, which represents over 125 victims’ families, said it has been waiting for critical crash data from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The request, filed on August 13, seeks access to cockpit recordings, flight data, and investigation reports related to the fatal Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash.

“Due to the US government shutdown, any response from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been delayed,” Michael Andrews, Principal Attorney at Beasley Allen said to The Indian Express. “We represent the families of more than 125 victims on the plane and on the ground, and we are awaiting complete data before proceeding with legal action,” he added.

Crash That Shook India

The Air India flight, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed just minutes after take-off, killing 241 passengers and crew members on board and 19 people on the ground when the aircraft slammed into the BJ Medical College hostel building in Meghaninagar. Only one passenger, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national from Diu, survived the impact.

Eyewitnesses recalled scenes of devastation as emergency teams battled flames and debris through the night. Authorities have since completed the recovery of bodies, while investigations continue into what caused the sudden fuel cutoff cited in the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) interim report.

Families Seek Accountability

Families of victims say they are determined to pursue justice despite the bureaucratic delays. “The agony of losing our loved ones cannot be measured, but we are committed to ensuring accountability,” said Saiyed Imtiaz Ali, who lost four members of his family in the crash. “We understand these cases take years, and we’re prepared for a long legal fight,” he added. Another relative, requesting anonymity, said families were aware that “aviation-related litigation can stretch for years” and that they were “not expecting an overnight result.”

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, addressing the Aviation India 2025 Conference in New Delhi on October 29, described the tragedy as “devastating” and expressed solidarity with the victims’ families. He noted that while the AAIB’s interim report has provided “greater clarity,” the investigation remains “far from over.”

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The AAIB report released on July 12 pointed to a possible instance of fuel cutoff shortly after take-off, though the final cause of the crash has not been officially determined. The firm’s FOIA petition requests a complete copy of all aircraft accident information, including “pictures, videos, diagrams, and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) data,” to determine whether mechanical failure, design flaws, or software issues contributed to the accident.

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As the legal and investigative processes continue, grieving families await justice, their hopes now tied to the reopening of the US government and the release of crucial flight data that could determine who was truly responsible for one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.