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An Indian man who lost his wife and young daughter in last year’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad has been ordered by the United Kingdom government to leave the country by April 22 or face deportation.
Mohammad Shethwala, who had been living in the UK on a dependent visa, was placed on immigration bail after the UK Home Office rejected his request for Further Leave to Remain (FLR) on “compassionate” and “humanitarian” grounds, according to Metro.
“I am not accepting this decision from the government. I’m not feeling well right now because of this. I’m not accepting this decision,” Shethwala told the outlet.
His wife, Sadikabanu Tapeliwala, and their two-year-old daughter Fatima were among the 260 people killed when the London-bound flight crashed
shortly after take-off, with only one survivor.
ALSO READ: ’11-Year History Of Electrical Defects’: US Aviation Group On Air India Plane In Ahmedabad Crash
Shethwala had moved to the UK in 2022 as a dependent on his wife’s student visa while she studied at Ulster University’s London campus. The couple later had a child in the UK and had planned to continue building their lives there.
Speaking to The Indian Express, he said, “Sadika and I hail from financially weak backgrounds… our neighbours had pooled in money for our UK dreams.”
He described the emotional toll of returning after the tragedy. “I returned to the UK at the end of June. But when I returned to our house here, I had a breakdown,” he said.
“Just months ago, the apartment had been loud, filled with the scent of my wife and daughter… I could not sleep at night due to depression,” he added, noting that he later sought psychiatric help and moved to London, where friends have been supporting him.
“Returning to India will constantly remind me of Sadika and Fatima,” he added.
Shethwala also said he had to turn down a job offer in London linked to Air India due to his visa situation.
Friends have criticised the decision, saying he has lost everything and needs support rather than removal. They have called for a review, arguing that his case deserves special consideration given the circumstances.
