Dad whose entire family died in Air India crash told he can’t stay in UK

The Home Office has faced strong criticism after informing Mohammad Shethwala, a father who lost his wife and young daughter in the Air India Flight 171 crash, that he must leave the UK following the rejection of his visa extension request.Mohammads wife, Sadikabanu, and their two-year-old daughter Fatima were among the 260 people killed in the June 2025 crash shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad. Having entered the UK in 2022 as a dependent on his wifes student visa, Mohammads legal right to remain in the country was tied to her immigration status.Following the tragedy, he applied for Further Leave to Remain on humanitarian grounds, stating that he had nothing left outside the support network he has built in London. His legal team argued that his mental health had significantly deteriorated and that returning to India would worsen his condition, particularly given the intense media coverage surrounding the crash.However, the Home Office rejected the application, stating that his case did not meet the threshold for exceptional circumstances. Officials said he could access support and healthcare in India, and he was subsequently placed on immigration bail, preventing him from working or switching to another visa route.Speaking about the decision, Mohammad said he could not accept the outcome and described the emotional toll it has taken on him. Friends close to him say he has struggled to process the loss and relies heavily on those around him in the UK for daily support.Campaigners and advocacy groups have condemned the decision, describing it as lacking compassion. Fizza Qureshi, chief executive of the Migrants' Rights Network, said the move showed a failure to support someone experiencing profound grief. Patrick Vernon also criticised the decision, comparing the treatment to past injustices such as the Windrush scandal and calling it a moral failure.Legal representatives have confirmed that the decision will be challenged in court, a process that will allow Mohammad to remain in the UK while proceedings continue. They maintain that his situation is a genuine humanitarian case and have urged authorities to reconsider, emphasising the severe emotional and financial hardship he faces following the loss of his immediate family.A spokesperson for the Home Office said that all visa applications are assessed individually in line with immigration rules, but declined to comment further on the specifics of the case.  The post Dad whose entire family died in Air India crash told he cant stay in UK appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.