Latest news with #FaizanRafik
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cousin of Air India victim wants recording released
The cousin of a man who died in the Air India plane crash has called for cockpit recordings from the flight to be released. A total of 260 people were killed when the Boeing 787 flight bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, India, on 12 June. A preliminary report on the incident found both fuel control switches were in the cut-off position - a step that turns off the engines - moments before the plane crashed. Sameer Rafik, cousin of crash victim Faizan Rafik from Leicester, said: "I've just read the report and it doesn't make any sense to me." Under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules, investigating states are obliged to file a preliminary report within 30 days of a crash, detailing any initial findings. One of the findings in the report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau outlines how a pilot could be heard asking the other pilot, "why did you cut off?", in a voice recording of the cockpit in the moments before the crash. It is not specified which voice is which. At the time the aircraft took off, the co-pilot was flying the plane, while the captain was monitoring. The report says the switches were moved back into their normal inflight position, something which would automatically start the process of relighting the engines. One engine, according to the report, was in the process of regaining thrust at the time the aircraft crashed. The other was relit but was not yet regaining thrust. The report says both engine fuel cut-off switches were turned to "cut-off" with a time delay. Mr Rafik said he would fly to India "straight away" if the recordings were released to family members. "The Indian Government should release the cockpit audio for the families who lost loved ones," said Mr Rafik. "After we listen to the cockpit recording, we will then know what happened. "If they want to release the audio to family members only, I will be more than happy to fly to India and listen to it, I will go straight way. "I lost my loved one. I know what my family are feeling and no one will understand my pain." The investigation - led by Indian authorities with experts from Boeing, General Electric, Air India, Indian regulators, and participants from the US and UK - raises several questions. Investigators say the lever-lock fuel switches are designed to prevent accidental activation - they must be pulled up to unlock before flipping, a safety feature dating back to the 1950s. Built to exacting standards, they're highly reliable. Protective guard brackets further shield them from accidental bumps. The report does not draw any conclusions, and points out that the investigation into the crash - which just one passenger, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, from Leicester, survived - is continuing. In a statement following the release of the report, an Air India spokesperson said the airline "stands in solidarity with the families and those affected" and is cooperating fully with authorities investigating the crash. It did not address specific findings in the report. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Fuel switches cut off before Air India crash, report says, as families ask if it was avoidable Why cockpit audio deepens the mystery of Air India crash 'Was this avoidable?': Families of Air India crash victims seek answers
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cousin of Air India crash victim wants recordings released
The cousin of a man who died in the Air India plane crash has called for cockpit recordings from the flight to be released.A total of 260 people were killed when the Boeing 787 flight bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, India, on 12 June.A preliminary report on the incident found both fuel control switches were in the cut-off position - a step that turns off the engines - moments before the plane Rafik, cousin of crash victim Faizan Rafik from Leicester, said: "I've just read the report and it doesn't make any sense to me." Under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules, investigating states are obliged to file a preliminary report within 30 days of a crash, detailing any initial of the findings in the report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau outlines how a pilot could be heard asking the other pilot, "why did you cut off?", in a voice recording of the cockpit in the moments before the is not specified which voice is which. At the time the aircraft took off, the co-pilot was flying the plane, while the captain was report says the switches were moved back into their normal inflight position, something which would automatically start the process of relighting the engine, according to the report, was in the process of regaining thrust at the time the aircraft crashed. The other was relit but was not yet regaining report says both engine fuel cut-off switches were turned to "cut-off" with a time Rafik said he would fly to India "straight away" if the recordings were released to family members."The Indian Government should release the cockpit audio for the families who lost loved ones," said Mr Rafik."After we listen to the cockpit recording, we will then know what happened."If they want to release the audio to family members only, I will be more than happy to fly to India and listen to it, I will go straight way."I lost my loved one. I know what my family are feeling and no one will understand my pain." The investigation - led by Indian authorities with experts from Boeing, General Electric, Air India, Indian regulators, and participants from the US and UK - raises several say the lever-lock fuel switches are designed to prevent accidental activation - they must be pulled up to unlock before flipping, a safety feature dating back to the 1950s. Built to exacting standards, they're highly reliable. Protective guard brackets further shield them from accidental report does not draw any conclusions, and points out that the investigation into the crash - which just one passenger, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, from Leicester, survived - is a statement following the release of the report, an Air India spokesperson said the airline "stands in solidarity with the families and those affected" and is cooperating fully with authorities investigating the did not address specific findings in the report.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Funeral for Air India crash victim after DNA match
A DNA sample has matched to a man loved ones feared was on board the Air India flight which crashed in Ahmedabad, family members have told the BBC. A funeral was held in Dagachi Dui, India, at 10:30 BST on Wednesday for Faizan Rafik, 25, who was travelling home to Leicester when the plane crashed on Thursday. Mourners are also due to gather at the Faizan e Madina mosque in Leicester on Thursday, when prayers will be said. Mr Rafik's cousin, Sameer Rafik, told the BBC on Tuesday loved ones had still been "hoping to hear some good news" but they "weren't getting any updates from anywhere". Sameer also backed calls for the UK government to provide more support to the families of the victims involved in the crash. "It feels very awful," he said. "He's nothing to the government – just a piece of paper, feels like tearing it up and throwing it in the bin. "We don't know what to do because we're completely blank. We need some kind of support from someone, we need a guide about what to do but we don't have that at the moment." In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash." Air India has been approached for a comment. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Family desperate for news after India plane crash
BBC News
18-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Funeral for Air India crash victim after DNA match
A DNA sample has matched to a man loved ones feared was on board the Air India flight which crashed in Ahmedabad, family members have told the BBC.A funeral was held in Dagachi Dui, India, at 10:30 BST on Wednesday for Faizan Rafik, 25, who was travelling home to Leicester when the plane crashed on are also due to gather at the Faizan e Madina mosque in Leicester on Thursday, when prayers will be Rafik's cousin, Sameer Rafik, told the BBC on Tuesday loved ones had still been "hoping to hear some good news" but they "weren't getting any updates from anywhere". Sameer also backed calls for the UK government to provide more support to the families of the victims involved in the crash."It feels very awful," he said. "He's nothing to the government – just a piece of paper, feels like tearing it up and throwing it in the bin."We don't know what to do because we're completely blank. We need some kind of support from someone, we need a guide about what to do but we don't have that at the moment." In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash."Air India has been approached for a comment.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Leicester family desperate for news after Air India plane crash
The family of a British man feared to have been on board the Air India flight that crashed in India say they are desperate for answers about what happened to Rafik was returning home to Leicester when the plane he was due to be travelling on crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad on 25-year-old's family say they have not yet received official confirmation about whether he was on board or if so what has happened to his cousin Sameer Rafik said his family had been left "completely stuck and don't know what to do". A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said an advice helpline and a support centre had been set up near the airport. On Tuesday, Sameer said his family had provided DNA more than four days ago, but had still heard nothing."There's no update on him, we don't know if he's dead or alive," he said."We are still hoping to hear some good news from India but unfortunately we aren't getting any update from anywhere."Faizan's dad was asked to give DNA - it's been more than four days now. We were supposed to have heard from the hospital by Monday but we haven't heard anything."We need to get some update about my brother. Was he there in the flight crash? If he wasn't on the flight where is he? If he is on the flight then what's the condition of the body?"The plane was carrying 242 people when it crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, in western India, including 53 was a single passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh who survived the crash. Faizan was retuning the UK after visiting his wife in Bharuch, Gujarat for their first Eid celebration has backed calls for the UK government to provide more support to the families of the victims involved in the added: "We haven't had anything from the UK or India – it feels like he was the one paying tax to this country and the government doesn't bother about the person who has died."It feels very awful. He's nothing to the government – just a piece of paper, feels like tearing it up and throwing it in the bin."We don't know what to do because we're completely blank. We need some kind of support from someone, we need a guide about what to do but we don't have that at the moment."Over the weekend, doctors in India said 270 bodies had been recovered from the site of the crash. A statement from the FCDO said: "Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash."The BBC has contacted Air India for a statement and is awaiting a response.
