Four of Khanpur family who came for Eid killed in Air India crash

In a heart-wrenching tragedy that has cast a pall of grief over Khanpur, four members of an Ahmedabad family were among those killed in Thursday’s Air India Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad airport.

The deceased have been identified as Inayat Ali Saiyed, his wife Nafeesabanu Saiyed, their daughter Taskinbanu Saiyed, and nephew Vaki Ali Saiyed. The family was aboard Air India flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, which crashed shortly after take-off, claiming several lives and leaving the city in shock.

According to relatives, Inayat Ali Saiyed had been residing in the United Kingdom for over two decades, working as a software engineer. The family had visited Ahmedabad nearly three months ago to celebrate Eid and spend time with Ali's elderly mother. Their visit was marked by joy and reunions—until it ended in unimaginable loss.

On Thursday, relatives Waris Hussain Saiyed and Aminsab Saiyed had accompanied the family to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to see them off. Minutes after takeoff, the aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner registered VT-ANB, crashed into the BJMC Boys Hostel in Meghaninagar, killing several onboard and injuring others on the ground.

“It was meant to be a celebration, a family gathering for Eid. We never imagined we would be receiving this news,” said a close family friend, his voice choked with emotion.

The Saiyed family had boarded the ill-fated flight to return to London after their extended visit. With their deaths, a wave of mourning has swept through Khanpur, where neighbours and friends gathered to offer condolences. The family was well-known in the locality for their humble nature and deep community ties.

The Gujarat government has assured all assistance to the bereaved families, while a high-level investigation has been launched into the crash by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

As rescue operations continue and identification of victims progresses, the Khanpur locality remains cloaked in sorrow—a grim reminder of the personal toll behind aviation tragedies.