Ahmedabad: Akash Patel, a native of Modasa in north Gujarat, had everything going for him: a dream job, a future abroad and a new beginning with his wife. Six months later, the AI 171 crash brought his world crashing down. Unable to cope with the loss, Patel eventually left the UK and returned to Gujarat despite holding a valid work permit until 2028.
Today, he spends his days helping his family with farming and family businesses in his hometown. Patel, now in his 30s, moved to the UK in 2022 in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, when demand for healthcare professionals was high. “I worked hard and built a promising career in the healthcare sector within three years. Once I got settled, my family persuaded me to get married,” he said.
His family chose Jayshree, a woman from their community. “It was a match made in heaven. We got engaged in 2024 and married in Jan 2025 with much fanfare. I stayed in India till Feb 10 and promised her that I would bring her to the UK once all the visa and other formalities were completed.”
After completing the paperwork, Patel was preparing to welcome his wife, then 23, to London in June 2025. Looking back, he still remembers the discussions surrounding her travel date. “June 12 wasn’t even the original date. I suggested June 17, but the family wanted her to leave sooner. June 10 was not considered auspicious. June 11 was a Wednesday, and some family members felt it was not an ideal day to send a daughter to her in-laws’ home, so a ticket was booked for June 12,” he said, adding: “It was her first international trip. We spent hours on calls discussing what she should expect, how to navigate the airport and how immigration procedures worked.”
Patel’s last conversation with Jayshree was right before take-off. “That’s why I simply couldn’t believe it when my family called and broke the news. I was devastated. We had not even spent two months together as husband and wife,” he said.
The loss altered the course of his life. “It was too much for me to handle. I stayed back after her last rites and returned to the UK only in Sep. I tried hard to get back to my routine and even sought the help of mental health experts, but I could not focus. After discussions with my family, I decided to return to India, even though my work permit remains valid until 2028,” adds Patel.
As the first anniversary of Jayshree’s death approaches, the memories remain painfully fresh. “Both our families have organised a Sundarkand recital and a charitable activity on June 12 to honour her memory and the way she looked at life,” Patel said, struggling to hold back emotions.
For him, the passage of time has done little to lessen the pain or answer the questions that continue to haunt many affected families. “It has been a year, but it still feels like yesterday. I have been part of an email sent to the British Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) seeking a thorough investigation into the incident. Even after a year, families like ours have not received closure,” he said.
“Compensation or money does not matter to me. What matters is accountability. Those responsible must be brought to book so that no other family has to go through the pain of losing a loved one.”
