Air India Flight Tragedy Leaves UK Families in Shock

Sat Sep 13 2025 18:29:41 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In the wake of a devastating plane crash in India, families of the victims, including British nationals, grapple with grief and uncertainty as they seek answers.

The tragic incident saw Air India Flight AI171, bound for London, plummet near Ahmedabad, claiming 241 lives, including 52 British tourists. Among the casualties were Jamie and Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, a married couple from Ramsgate, England, who were returning from a spiritual retreat in India. Their friend, Heidi Moran, learned of their deaths through an anonymous Instagram message, struggling to process the heartbreaking news. As British relatives rush to India for identification purposes, the larger community mourns the loss of loved ones and seeks clarity on the circumstances that led to this aviation disaster.

Heidi Moran, an organizer for Ramsgate's LGBTQ+ festival, received the shocking news that her friends, Jamie and Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, were among the deceased on Air India Flight AI171. The couple had recently married and were returning from India after a spiritual retreat. They had planned to help organize events for the festival upon their return. The message informing Moran was sent by an unknown account from India, confirming their presence on the ill-fated flight.

The tragedy, which occurred as the plane was approaching Ahmedabad, not only claimed the lives of the Greenlaw-Meek couple but also left many families in the UK in disbelief. The crash killed 241 individuals, sparking urgent travel for bereaved relatives wishing to identify loved ones.

Moran's harrowing story reflects the broader sorrow engulfing families separated by distance but united in loss, as they search for answers amid the ongoing recovery operations in India.