As families across India try to cope with the terrible Air India crash that killed 270 people in Ahmedabad on Thursday, a grieving victim’s family has spoken out against how the tragedy is being misused on social media for a few views and likes, according to a report by India Today.
Kuldeep Bhatt, whose cousin Komi Vyas died in the crash along with her husband Prateek Joshi and their three children, criticised influencers and content creators for spreading false information, using edited and AI-generated photos and fake videos of the victims and their families.
“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.”
Private photos turned into AI-generated fakes
Bhatt recounted how a personal family moment was twisted into viral content. “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.
He also highlighted the impact of misleading content involving 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 burned. There are even videos circulating that her cremation is taking place.”
The grieving cousin also highlighted the impact of misleading content involving 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.”
‘Why are you giving us trauma?’
Further worsening the family’s pain is the emergence of fake social media accounts in Komi’s name. “Photos of Komi are being misused. Fake accounts have been made. I request all social media influencers to 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 killed 241 passengers onboard and several others on the ground when the aircraft crashed into a hostel and canteen complex in the Meghaninagar area shortly after takeoff. Komi Vyas, her husband Prateek Joshi, their twin sons Pradyut and Nakul, and daughter Miraya were among the victims.
Family appeals for sensitivity
Bhatt made it clear that the family and authorities are open to sharing verified information, but pleaded for basic decency. “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 one particularly harmful video, Bhatt 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.”
Shaken by the level of insensitivity, Bhatt questioned the moral compass of those sharing and creating such content. “What the hell are people doing?” he asked, urging them to take responsibility and stop exploiting a national tragedy. “This is my request to you. Please stop all these things,” he added.