An Indian man who lost his wife and young daughter in the 2025 Air India Flight 171 crash has been asked to leave the United Kingdom by April 22 or face deportation, a decision that has sparked widespread criticism. Mohammad Shethwala, who had been residing in the UK on a dependent visa, had applied for Further Leave to Remain (FLR) on compassionate and humanitarian grounds, but his request was rejected by the Home Office, leaving him on immigration bail with a deadline to exit the country.
Shethwala’s wife, Sadikabanu Tapeliwala, and their two-year-old daughter Fatima were among the 260 people who died when the Ahmedabad–London flight crashed shortly after take-off. The tragedy left him as the sole surviving member of his immediate family. He had moved to the UK in March 2022 as a dependent on his wife’s student visa while she pursued her studies at Ulster University’s London campus. The couple had built their life together in the UK, and their daughter was born there, with plans to transition to a Skilled Worker route before the fatal crash changed everything.
Following the incident, Shethwala returned to the UK in June but described experiencing severe emotional distress upon re-entering his home, which still carried memories of his wife and child. He said the apartment, once filled with the presence of his family, had become unbearable, leading to sleepless nights and depression. With support from friends, he sought help from a private psychiatrist and eventually moved to London, where his support network has been assisting him through his grief. He has expressed deep reluctance to return to India, stating that doing so would constantly remind him of the loss he suffered.
Despite his circumstances, immigration authorities determined that he does not qualify under the “bereaved spouse” category and concluded that he could reintegrate into life in India, citing his familiarity with the country and the presence of family there. His visa expired several months after his wife’s death, and his appeal for an extension was not accepted. He has been instructed to leave the UK by the specified date, failing which he could be detained and deported.
Shethwala also revealed that he had been offered employment in London by Air India through the Taj Group but was unable to accept the opportunity due to his visa status. Friends and supporters have described his situation as devastating, noting that he lost his entire family in a single incident and is now at risk of losing his support system as well.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from campaigners, legal representatives, and public figures, who have described it as lacking compassion. Advocacy groups have argued that the case represents a genuine humanitarian situation and have urged authorities to reconsider, highlighting the importance of mental health support and stability for someone dealing with such profound loss. Critics have characterised the move as both a bureaucratic and moral failure, questioning the application of rigid immigration rules in exceptional circumstances.
In response, the UK Home Office has maintained that all visa applications are assessed on an individual basis in accordance with existing immigration laws, indicating no deviation from standard procedures. However, the case continues to raise broader questions about the balance between legal frameworks and humanitarian considerations in immigration policy.
