A bitter dispute over the 2022 Air India crash that killed 171 people has escalated, with British aviation experts joining families in demanding a new, independent investigation. The tragedy, which occurred when Flight AI-182 plunged into the Irish Sea shortly after takeoff from Dublin, has been plagued by allegations of a cover-up and conflicting reports from Indian and Irish authorities.
Families of the victims, many from working-class communities in the North West of England, have spent months seeking answers. They claim the official inquiry, led by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has been opaque and has ignored key evidence. Now, a coalition of retired British aviation engineers and union leaders has added its voice, calling for an independent probe.
"This is not about politics. This is about 171 people who went to work and never came home," said Sarah Tomlinson, whose brother was a flight attendant on the doomed plane. "We are being treated like we do not matter. The official report says one thing, but whistleblowers tell us another."
The crash, which occurred on a night of heavy fog, initially appeared to be a pilot error. However, leaked internal documents suggest possible mechanical failure in the aircraft's de-icing system, a component that had been flagged in previous maintenance checks. The documents, shared with the families by a former Air India engineer, contradict the official conclusion that icing was not a factor.
"These documents raise serious questions about the integrity of the Indian investigation," said retired aviation engineer James Gallagher, who has reviewed the evidence. "We are talking about a plane that crashed into the sea at 300 miles an hour. The black boxes were recovered, but critical data was 'missing'. That is not an accident. That is a red flag."
The families have written to the British Prime Minister, urging him to intervene and establish a UK-led inquiry, citing the high number of British victims. Many of the passengers were of Indian descent but lived in the UK, having saved for years for a trip to visit relatives in Delhi. The crash devastated communities in Leicester, Birmingham, and East London, where funeral costs and lost wages have pushed some families into debt.
"We have widows who cannot afford rent. We have fathers who now work two jobs to feed their children," said trade union leader Margaret O'Brien, representing victims' families. "The least they deserve is the truth. The British government has a duty to these families. They paid taxes. They played by the rules. Now they need us to fight for them."
The Indian government has rejected calls for a new inquiry, insisting its investigation was thorough and transparent. A spokesperson for the Indian High Commission in London said: "We have provided full cooperation to families and the Irish authorities. We stand by our findings."
But the families are not backing down. Next week, they plan to hold a protest outside Parliament, demanding the government release its own report, which has been delayed for months. The Department for Transport has declined to comment on the delay, citing ongoing discussions with Indian counterparts.
"We are not going away," said Tomlinson. "We want a proper inquiry. We want accountability. We want our loved ones' names cleared. And we want to make sure this never happens again."
For the families, the fight is not just about justice. It is about dignity. And in a year when cost of living has squeezed every penny, they say they cannot afford to lose hope.
