As the nation mourns the devastating Air India Crash of Air India Flight AI171, which claimed 270 lives on June 12, 2025, Thursday—including passengers and residents on the ground—grieving families are voicing their anger over the exploitation of the tragedy on social media platforms.

Among the most vocal is Kuldeep Bhatt, cousin of Komi Vyas, who died in the crash alongside her husband Prateek Joshi and their three children—twin sons Pradyut and Nakul, and daughter Miraya.

Bhatt condemned social media influencers and content creators for spreading misinformation, circulating doctored visuals, and using fake videos in the names of victims to gain attention online.

Bhatt said that the families of all 270 victims were undergoing immense mental trauma, which was being worsened by the actions of online content creators seeking likes and views.

He alleged that many were misusing videos of the crash and sharing edited images without consent, further deepening the pain of already devastated relatives.

He cited a specific incident involving a family photograph.

According to Bhatt, Komi and her family had taken a selfie before boarding the ill-fated flight and shared it in their private family group.

That image, he said, had since gone viral and was being used to generate AI-created fake videos. One such video, he added, had been widely circulated across India.

Another distressing instance, Bhatt noted, involved an image of Komi’s daughter, Miraya. He said a photograph of the young girl had been circulating since the previous day, accompanied by false claims about her body being burnt.

He explained that no DNA match had been confirmed yet, but social media users were already sharing speculative videos, including purported cremation footage, which the family strongly disputed.

Bhatt also expressed concern over the emergence of fake social media accounts under Komi’s name. He appealed directly to influencers and online users to stop such actions, saying the misuse of Komi’s photos and the creation of fake accounts were causing severe emotional distress. He questioned why families already in mourning were being subjected to further trauma simply for the sake of internet popularity.

The crash occurred when Flight AI171, en route to London, plummeted shortly after takeoff and crashed into a hostel and canteen complex in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area. The disaster not only killed all 241 people onboard but also resulted in fatalities on the ground.

Bhatt urged content creators and social media users to exercise basic humanity and responsibility. He stated that both the authorities and the family were willing to assist with accurate information or images if approached through proper channels.

However, he said, creating misleading or sensationalised content for entertainment or engagement was unacceptable.

He also debunked another viral video, which falsely claimed to show the bodies of children from the crash. Bhatt clarified that the video in question actually depicted coffins bearing the names Hadap and Mohan Chaudhary, written in Chitra Akshar, from a completely different incident.

In a final plea, Bhatt condemned the insensitivity and recklessness being shown by some online users.

He appealed for restraint and decency, asking creators to respect the grief of families.

"This is my request to you. Please stop all these things," he said.

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