### Grieving Family of Newport Man Killed in Air India Crash Pleads for UK Government’s Help
The family of a well-known Newport businessman who perished alongside his wife and young daughter in last week’s Air India tragedy have criticised what they call a lack of support from the British government. They say they feel “utterly abandoned” as they wait for answers and assistance in India.
Akeel Nanabawa, aged 35, was travelling with his wife Hanaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara when their flight crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Ahmedabad, India, shortly after take-off on Thursday. All three members of the Nanabawa family lost their lives in the accident. The crash, one of India’s worst in recent years, involved 242 passengers, including 53 British nationals. Only one person survived.
Akeel’s brother, Hamzah Nanabawa, is currently in India searching for answers and support. He says the family has not even been able to bring Akeel’s body home despite providing DNA samples three days ago. “We’re not asking for miracles – we’re asking for presence, for compassion, for action. Right now, we feel utterly abandoned,” a spokesperson for the family told the BBC.
Hamzah has called on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to step up its efforts, explaining that British consular officials and crisis staff appear to be absent from hospitals and support centres where grieving families have gathered. “We need the UK government to come out here themselves. After all the statements made in the UK, we need to see real help on the ground,” he urged.
He detailed his sense of frustration at the lack of communication, saying: “No-one from the UK has even reached out to me, my family, or my sister-in-law’s family. Not a single person. You would think, given that 53 Britons died in this crash – the highest death toll for the UK in an air disaster in many years – that there would be better organisation and compassion. It’s now day four since the crash.”
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said that a dedicated helpline has been set up and that British air accident investigators are assisting local authorities in Ahmedabad. “Our staff are working around the clock both in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those affected by the crash. We have established a Reception Centre at the Ummed Hotel, near Ahmedabad airport, and are providing advice and support for British nationals,” the spokesperson explained.
Locally, Akeel Nanabawa was a respected figure, having grown up in Newport and attended Caerleon Comprehensive School before moving to Gloucester, where he founded a successful executive recruitment agency. News of the family’s deaths has sent shockwaves through the Newport community.
James Savastano, a PE teacher at Caerleon Comprehensive School, recalled Akeel fondly. “It’s with great sadness that we have lost Akeel in such tragic circumstances. As a member of my form group, he was well liked, active in sport, and had a great personality. The whole Nanabawa family will be missed.”
The tragedy has highlighted ongoing challenges faced by British families seeking assistance abroad in times of crisis. Despite official reassurances, many relatives feel the practical response falls short of expectations when it matters most.
For now, the Nanabawas and dozens of other British families must wait—for answers, logistical support, and the repatriation of loved ones lost. Their story serves as a painful reminder of the real human cost behind headline tragedies and the importance of compassionate, hands-on international support.
As the investigation continues, authorities in both the UK and India face mounting pressure to support bereaved relatives after this devastating incident. The community in Newport, and Britons across the country, mourn the loss of a family taken far too soon.