window.dotcom = window.dotcom || { cmd: [] }; window.dotcom.ads = window.dotcom.ads || { resolves: {enabled: [], getAdTag: []}, enabled: () => new Promise(r => window.dotcom.ads.resolves.enabled.push(r)), getAdTag: () => new Promise(r => window.dotcom.ads.resolves.getAdTag.push(r)) }; setTimeout(() => { if(window.dotcom.ads.resolves){ window.dotcom.ads.resolves.enabled.forEach(r => r(false)); window.dotcom.ads.resolves.getAdTag.forEach(r => r("")); window.dotcom.ads.enabled = () => new Promise(r => r(false)); window.dotcom.ads.getAdTag = () => new Promise(r => r("")); console.error("NGAS load timeout"); } }, 5000)
Skip to content

Family's anguished wait for news after air crash

Sonia Kataria & Dan Hunt
BBC News, Leicester
Supplied Faizan Rafik is pictured wearing a long grey shirt and long beardSupplied
Faizan Rafik is believed to have been on the Air India flight which crashed on Thursday

A family from Leicester say they are waiting for news about a loved one who was thought to have been on a plane that crashed in India.

More than 240 people were killed on Thursday when a Boeing 787 bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take off in Ahmedabad.

Faizan Rafik, 25, from the Belgrave area of the city, was believed to have been on the flight after visiting India for a week to celebrate Eid with his wife.

His brother Farhan Rafik, 22, said the family was still hoping to receive a call from him.

Farhan said: "We are all hoping he will come back, we are still hoping that from somewhere he will pick up our call and say 'I am alive and I am safe', but we are still waiting for that call."

Farhan Rafik is pictured wearing a white shirt and grey light coat. He has a beard and cars and houses are blurred in the background
Farhan Rafik, 22, said the family was waiting to hear news about his brother Faizan

The 22-year-old from Leicester said he and Faizan were "always together" and added people would "feel great" in his company.

He added Faizan dedicated time to charity work and was "respectful" of everyone.

There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the flight when it crashed.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh, also from Leicester, was the sole survivor and escaped the wreckage through an opening in the fuselage.

Live coverage of the crash aftermath

Messages deliver, bodies missing: Clinging to hope after Air India crash

What we know so far about Air India flight AI171?

What could have caused Air India plane to crash in 30 seconds?

Leicester Council of Faiths said it was "shocked" and "saddened" by the plane crash.

A spokesperson said: "With reports of casualties from the local area and the sole survivor from Leicester, and with Leicester's diverse communities having deep connections to India, this tragedy has affected many here.

"We stand together in grief and in mourning for those who have lost their lives."

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

More on this story