‘Grieving for our parents killed in Air India crash will never end’

“I started my grieving last Thursday, when we finally brought them home.”

Miten Patel’s mother and father Ashok and Shobhana Patel died on the Gatwick-bound Air India aeroplane crash in June.

The couple were travelling home to visit their sons and grandchildren on 12 June, when the plane crashed in Ahmedabad, western India, killing all but one of those on board.

On Sunday, Mr Patel organised a service at the Sattavis Patidar Centre in Wembley to remember and pray for the victims, which also included Sunny and Monali Patel, from south Norwood.

“That’s when it hit me. I think it’s going to be a long process to grieve. Grieving will never end – they’re our life,” he said.

There were 242 passengers and crew on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian.

After the crash, the victims’ remains were identified by the Indian authorities, however Mr Patel discovered “other remains” were in his mother’s casket when her body was returned to the UK.

He thanked the doctors involved for their support in the re-identification of his mother’s remains.

“We have now 100% confirmed that we have cremated mum and dad, as mum and dad. It was a long process but it was definitely a necessary one.”

The family were also able to recover his father’s ring, which he was wearing when the plane crashed.

Mr Patel’s family prepared a slideshow of photos of his parents throughout their life for the memorial.

He described his parents as respected members of the community who were deeply missed.

“They were the most wonderful parents that any child could ask for. They were caring, loving, supportive every step of the way,” he said.

He said his parents would have been amazed at the gathering of people who came to pay their respects.

“The community at large has really supported us at this tragic time and I am grateful to every single one of those people,” he added.

At least 130 people attended the memorial including family, friends and people who knew other crash victims in India.

Mukesh Patel, trustee of the Sattavis Patidar Centre, said the community knew many of the Gujarati victims of the crash, some of whom were living in the UK and others who lived in India.

“It is our duty as a trustee to organise and bring people together,” he said.

“For our community, it is a very sad day. We want to remember all of them, because this is the saddest thing that happened.”