All but one of the 242 passengers on an Air India Boeing 787 died when the aircraft crashed during take-off in Ahmedabad, north-western India, on Thursday, according to authorities.
On the ground, 38 local residents were also killed as the plane collided with a residential area beyond the airport. This incident is already the deadliest aviation disaster globally since 2014, although the final death toll will be confirmed after the lengthy process of victim identification is concluded.
Local media reports have identified many victims, ranging from former Gujarat State executive Vijay Rumani, 68, to Akash Patni, a 14-year-old tea vendor. Here are brief profiles of some victims, as told by their relatives:
The Amazon Employee
Pooja Patel, based in the UK, had arrived in India unexpectedly ten days prior with his wife, Harshit, who had recently suffered a miscarriage and was undergoing medical evaluations.
“This was the first time I saw my son in two years. We had a wonderful time,” said his father, Anil.
Pooja worked for the American online retail giant Amazon, relatives confirmed.
The crash robbed Anil, a widower for several years, of his only family. “Now I have nothing left. What the gods wanted has happened.”
The Chef
Kinal Mistry, 24, was a renowned chef in a London restaurant, an accomplished dancer, and a yoga enthusiast, her businessman father Suresh stated.
After a severe road accident, she went to India for significant dental reconstruction surgery, which was successful.
Initially scheduled to return to the UK on June 7, she extended her stay in her hometown of Anand, less than 100 km from Ahmedabad, until June 12.
“Those who spent time with her were delighted to savour her cooking, and now this,” lamented her father, Suresh Mistry, 53.
On Thursday, he dropped her off at the airport, and while returning home, he received a phone call from a friend about the tragedy.
“I can’t shake the thought that if she had returned on the 7th, she would still be here,” Suresh Mistry reflected.
The Hotel Manager
Javed Ali had arrived late Thursday night in Ahmedabad from Mumbai, where he had visited his ailing mother with his wife and two children.
At 37, he managed a hotel in London, where he had moved to build his life. His entire family perished in the Boeing crash.
“I was the one who dropped him at the airport when he moved to London about 15 years ago,” recalled friend Ismaïl Sheikh. “And now I’m here. It’s just unimaginable…”
“No one can replace such a loss,” added the victim’s brother, Imtiaz.
The Flight Attendant
She sent a final message to her older sister on Thursday before her flight departed: “I’m heading to London. We’re taking off in a few minutes. We won’t be able to talk for a while.”
Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam, 22, was a flight attendant with Air India and was part of the crew on flight 171.
Her father is grief-stricken and furious. “At this moment, no one from Air India has contacted us,” expressed Kongrailatpam Nandeshkumar. “We haven’t received any calls or information from them.”
