By Emeka Blast 
Orphaned by Air India Crash: Father Dies After Final Act for Deceased Wife
Two young sisters from London have been left orphaned after their father, Arjun Patoliya, perished in the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on June 12, 2025. Arjun, 37, had recently returned to India to fulfill his late wife Bharti’s final wish by scattering her ashes in her hometown of Gujarat. Bharti had passed away from cancer just two weeks prior. After completing the ritual, Arjun was on his way back to London to reunite with their daughters, aged 4 and 8, when the crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The crash resulted in the deaths of 270 people, including 29 on the ground .
In the aftermath, a GoFundMe campaign launched by Arjun’s employer has raised over £422,000 to support the orphaned girls. The funds are intended to provide a stable, nurturing home and ensure the girls have access to education and long-term care
The crash of Flight AI171 has been described as the worst aviation disaster in India since the 1999 Kargil War, marking a devastating loss for families and communities worldwide .
