A family member of one of the victims in the Air India Flight AI171 crash has spoken out against the misuse of photos and videos related to the tragedy. Kuldeep Bhatt, cousin of deceased passenger Komi Vyas, expressed deep pain over how social media users and influencers have exploited the incident to gain views and followers.
Bhatt said that people are sharing doctored images, AI-generated videos, and even fake funeral visuals of victims, including Komi’s six-year-old daughter, Miraya. Some of the content falsely claims that the children's bodies have been recovered and cremated, even though DNA reports are still pending.
One of the most upsetting examples is a private selfie taken by Komi and her family before boarding the flight. The image has gone viral and has been turned into a video without the family's permission. In addition, Bhatt said that fake social media accounts have been created in Komi’s name.
Bhatt criticized creators who are using tragic events for popularity, calling it a violation of the dignity of the victims and a cause of further trauma for grieving families.
He said, “We are going through mental trauma. And these people are misusing crash videos just to increase their views, likes and followers… What the hell are people doing?”
The Air India crash in Ahmedabad killed all 241 people on board, including Komi, her husband Prateek Joshi, and their three children. The incident has shocked the nation, and the investigation is still underway.
