A year has passed since the Air India flight went down over the Atlantic, killing all 329 on board. Today, families gathered at a memorial in London’s Hyde Park, clutching photographs and flowers, as investigators in the UK continue to pore over the wreckage for clues. The crash, which occurred on June 23 last year, remains the deadliest aviation disaster in recent memory. For the families, the pain is raw. ‘We need answers,’ said Priya Sharma, whose husband was a passenger. ‘The waiting is unbearable.’
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been leading the inquiry, piecing together the Boeing 777’s black box data and cockpit voice recorder. Preliminary reports suggest a possible structural failure, but no definitive cause has been announced. Trade unions representing aviation workers have called for tighter safety checks, warning that cost-cutting measures could put lives at risk. ‘This is about more than just one crash,’ said union leader Mark Thompson. ‘It’s about whether regulators are putting profits before people.’
The government has pledged transparency, but critics say the investigation has been too slow. For the families, each passing day is a reminder of what was lost. As one mother told me: ‘We just want to know why.’
