The family of three Britons who died in the Air India plane crash are calling on the UK government to provide more support in India. Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee and Sara Nanabawa, aged four, were returning home to Gloucesterwhen their plane ploughed into a residential areain Ahmedabad on Thursday. Akeel's brother, Hamzah, said they have not received his body despite giving DNA and waiting three days. A family spokesperson added: "We're not asking for miracles – we're asking for presence, for compassion, for action. Right now, we feel utterly abandoned." A Foreign Office spokesperson said there is an advice helpline and a support centre has been set up near the airport. The plane was carrying242 peoplewhen it crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, in western India, including 53 Britons. The sole surviving passenger was BritonVishwash Kumar Ramesh. Mr Nanabawa said: "I need the UK government to come out by themselves, if they've given up all this big talk over in the UK, come out here and help." He added there is no UK leadership in India, no medical team and no crisis professionals stationed at the hospital. "No one from UK has even reached out to me, my family, to my sister in law's family. Nobody has. So you're saying no one from the foreign office in the UK or here reached out to us at all, nobody," Mr Nanabawa said. "They haven't done anything for us [or] what we wanted. You have to understand, this is the highest, highest incident in the UK's history of 53 lives, and we are now on day four." He added: "All I want is you guys to come and help and help my brother, my sister in law, my niece and all the other 53 people that were on that plane. "Come and help them, please. Because they are grieving. They are hurt. They haven't got anybody. They [haven't got any] structure, no structure at all." UK air accident investigators are already in India and are assisting the Indian authorities, and UK forensic experts are there to support, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said. She added: "Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash. "We have set up a Reception Centre at the Ummed Hotel, near the Ahmedabad airport, and have a dedicated helpline to provide support and advice for the families and friends of British nationals." Follow BBC Gloucestershire onFacebook,XandInstagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or viaWhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Family of Air India crash victims feel 'abandoned'
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"Families of Air India Crash Victims Urge UK Government for More Support"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The families of three Britons who tragically lost their lives in the recent Air India plane crash are expressing their deep distress over what they perceive as a lack of support from the UK government. Akeel Nanabawa, his brother Hamzah, and their family are calling for urgent assistance following the crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of 53 British nationals among the 242 passengers onboard. Despite providing DNA samples for identification, the family has yet to receive Akeel's body after waiting for three days. Hamzah conveyed their feelings of abandonment, stating, "We're not asking for miracles – we're asking for presence, for compassion, for action." This sentiment echoes the grief and frustration felt by many families affected by the disaster, highlighting a need for more proactive support from the UK authorities during this difficult time.
In response to the families' concerns, a spokesperson from the Foreign Office mentioned the establishment of a helpline and a support center near the Ahmedabad airport. However, Akeel expressed disappointment over the lack of direct communication and assistance from UK officials. He emphasized the absence of UK leadership and medical teams on the ground, raising concerns about the support structures available for grieving families. Akeel's plea for action underscores the emotional turmoil experienced by those who lost loved ones in this tragic incident, as he called for the UK government to step up and provide necessary help. While UK air accident investigators and forensic experts are reportedly in India to assist local authorities, many families remain anxiously waiting for more tangible support and guidance during this critical period of mourning and uncertainty.
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