A heartbroken father, left with nothing following the tragic deaths of his wife and child in the Air India catastrophe, faces imminent deportation from the United Kingdom. Mohammad Sethwala, 27, tragically lost his wife, Sadikabanu Tapeliwala, 24, and their two-year-old daughter, Fatima, in the fatal Air India Flight 171 crash last June. The crash claimed the lives of 242 individuals when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner they were aboard crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, erupting into flames shortly after takeoff for Stansted.
Still mourning his devastating loss, Mohammad has been informed that his request to remain in the UK under “compassionate and compelling circumstances” has been denied. He arrived in the country in 2022 on a dependent visa linked to his wife’s primary status. While residing in Ilford, his wife pursued studies in International Business Management at Ulster University in Holborn. However, his permission to stay in the UK expired seven months after his wife’s passing.
Having worked the early shift on the day of the tragic incident to pick up his family from the airport, Mohammad received the devastating news from his father in India. Initially in disbelief, he realized that the crash had indeed taken the lives of his wife and daughter. Reflecting on the memories of his once lively home, he expressed the profound emptiness he now feels, having lost everything dear to him.
Mohammed disclosed that despite his efforts to appeal on grounds of exceptional circumstances, his plea to remain in the UK was turned down. Currently on “immigration bail,” he is permitted to stay in the UK until April 22, following which he will be detained and repatriated to India, a prospect that he believes will hinder his ability to heal and move forward.
Expressing his anguish over the impending deportation, Mohammed highlighted the financial and emotional investments made in the UK, emphasizing the impossibility of finding solace back in India. He lamented the rejection of his plea to stay in the UK, asserting that the decision hampers his path to healing and recovery.
