Father remembered year on from Air India tragedy

The son of a man who died in the Air India plane crash remembers his father as "funny, loving and caring", a year after the tragedy.

Vyom Shah, 20, from Southbourne in Bournemouth lost his father Ketan, 43, when the Air India flight AI171 crashed shortly after take-off from the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025.

Ketan regularly commuted to the shop he owned in Shipton Bellinger on the Hampshire-Wiltshire border.

The villagers have since fundraised for a bench in honour of his memory.

"He was the main man, he did everything for us, but now we have to do it for ourselves," Vyom said of his father.

"It's been hard, it's been a struggle because I have to step up now, because I'm the only man in the house.

"So I'm trying my best, for my mum and my sister."

The accident claimed the lives of 260 people when the Boeing 787, en route to Gatwick, came down shortly after take off.

Miraculously one passenger, Viswashkumar Ramesh from Leicester, survived.

Vyom said it was "hard to believe" his father died in the crash. He had been visiting India to see his sick father.

Following his death, the community in Shipton Bellinger came together in honour of Ketan Shah and fundraised for a commemorative bench.

"We appreciate all the support we've had from the village and from everyone," his son said.

"Dad loved it in Shipton Bellinger. He'd always talk to people and they talked to him.

"It's a great way to remember that he's done a lot," he added.

Vyom will spend the anniversary of his father's death with his mother Megha, sister Yahvi and family members who have travelled to Dorset from India.

"Dad was a family man. An open-minded guy, just funny, loving and caring," he said.

"We love him and will always remember him."