India Plane Crash Victim’s Relative Slams Influencers For Exploiting Tragedy

By - LCR 16 June 2025 Comments (0) 3 Mins Read

As families across the country struggle to come to terms with the horrific Air India crash that killed 270 people in Ahmedabad on Thursday, the grieving family member of one of the victims has issued a scathing appeal against the exploitation of the tragedy on social media.

Kuldeep Bhatt, cousin of Komi Vyas – who died along with her husband Prateek Joshi and three children in the crash – condemned influencers and content creators for spreading misinformation, using doctored images and faking videos of the victims and their families to garner likes and views.

“The biggest problem is that our family, as well as the families of 270 others, are going through mental trauma,” Bhatt said. “And social media influencers, in an attempt to increase their views, likes and followers, are misusing crash videos, posting doctored visuals.”

Bhatt spoke of specific instances where private family photographs were manipulated. “When Komi and others were leaving the flight, they took a selfie and posted it in our family group. Now that photo has gone viral. People have been generating videos from that photo. One such video has gone viral throughout India. It’s AI-generated. The photo has been made into a fake video,” he said.

Another particularly distressing image, according to Bhatt, involves the couple’s daughter, Miraya. “Since yesterday, a photo has been circulating on social media that is hurting us a lot. The girl is Miraya, such a lovely girl. Now we have no idea about the DNA sample. It has not matched. On social media, people are claiming her body is burnt. There are even videos circulating that her cremation is taking place.”

The family’s anguish has been worsened by the appearance of fake social media accounts in the name of Komi. “Photos of Komi are being misused. Fake accounts have been made. I request all social media influencers that please stop. Why are you giving us so much mental trauma just to increase your likes and followers?” Bhatt said.

The tragic crash of Flight AI171 on Thursday afternoon claimed 241 lives onboard and killed several others on the ground after the aircraft, bound for London, crashed into a medical hostel and canteen complex in Meghaninagar area shortly after takeoff. Komi Vyas, her husband Prateek Joshi, and their children – twin sons Pradyut and Nakul, and daughter Miraya – were among the passengers.

Bhatt emphasised that authorities and the family were open to helping with verified information but urged creators to act with basic responsibility. “If you need any information, talk to the administration. You’re getting official updates from there. If you need some photos or videos, we will provide them for you. But for your entertainment, for your popularity, please don’t do this,” he said.

Referring to another false claim circulating online, he said, “One video being shared says it shows children’s bodies. But the symbols seen in the video are coffins of Hadap and Mohan Chaudhary, written in Chitra Akshar. It’s from some other incident. This is what we have to face – more mental trauma.”

Calling out the insensitivity and recklessness of such content, Bhatt asked pointedly, “What the hell are people doing?” and reminded content creators of their moral responsibility, especially during such a national tragedy. “This is my request to you. Please stop all these things,” he said.