Nick Meek, the sibling of a British man who tragically lost his life in the Air India Flight 171 crash a year ago, has criticized the investigation into the incident, expressing doubts about the families receiving the complete truth. Nick’s brother, Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, aged 45, and his husband Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, aged 39, were among the 53 Britons on board the flight bound for Gatwick, which crashed into a hostel moments after departing from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, 2025.
With the upcoming release of the final report on the deadly crash by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on the anniversary, Nick voiced his skepticism regarding the investigation process. He expressed concerns that the blame might be unfairly placed on the pilots, citing a previous preliminary report that hinted at pilot error relating to fuel-control switches.
Reflecting on the approaching anniversary of his brother’s passing, Nick lamented the lack of closure and transparency surrounding the incident. He criticized Air India for their communication, describing the responses from the airline as generic and non-informative. Nick also highlighted the emotional turmoil caused by a mix-up in retrieving Fiongal’s remains, disrupting the plans for a joint scattering of their ashes.
Nick fondly remembered his brother Jamie as a loyal and adventurous individual, emphasizing the void left by his untimely departure. As the families prepare to commemorate the anniversary, Nick called for more involvement from British authorities in the investigation, questioning the extent of support provided to the affected families.
Legal representative Keith Barrett urged for prompt disclosure of the investigation findings to offer closure to the grieving families. The UK AAIB reiterated their commitment to facilitating information exchange with the families but emphasized the primary authority of the Indian AAIB in releasing investigation updates.
Efforts to obtain comments from Air India, Tata Group, and the Indian AAIB regarding the incident are ongoing.