‘They were wonderful': UK mourns Rajasthan doctor and family killed in Air India crash
The neighbours and friends of a Rajasthan doctor and his family, who were killed in the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad last week, have spoken out about the tragedy. Dr Pratik Joshi, a radiologist at Royal Derby Hospital, his wife and three children died after their flight to London crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Talking to the BBC, Neil Ryan, the 42-year-old neighbour of the family, said their death was "absolutely devastating" to the community. "The family were really unassuming, genuine kind people, honestly. It's heartbreaking," he added.
Ryan revealed that the family lived next door to him for a couple of years before Prateek Joshi's wife, Dr Kaumi Vyas, a pathologist and their three children - Miraya, Pradyut and Nakul - moved back to India.
"When they left, he came round - we always spoke to each other - he came round with a big bag of goodies, there was a bottle of gin, there was cakes, tea, all sorts. They were wonderful," he said.
Dr Joshi was excited for his family's return to the UK and was looking forward to the next chapter of their life, Mario Dimitrio Donadio, a radiologist who worked with Dr Joshi, told BBC.
On a work dinner a few weeks ago Dr Joshi shared his excited for finally reuniting with his family. "He said "Now my wife and kids will be coming here. Not long before they are here. That was the last dinner we had together. I will never forget him," he said.
While on the plane, Dr Joshi took a selfie of the family in which all five of them are seen smiling. The photo was shared on social media, just minutes before their flight crashed, killing the family.
"He was always very jolly, he was a sunny character, always bright and sparkling. The world is at loss, to lose people like him," Dr Donadio said.
Air India's flight AI171 from Ahmedabad and London Gatwick took off on Thursday afternoon but crashed minutes later, killing 241 out of the 242 people aboard including passengers and crew. Just one passenger survived the horrifying disaster.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
3 India-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliners returned to their origin within 36 hours
After a recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, three India-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliners returned to their origin. Air India's Hong Kong- Delhi flight, British Airways London-Chennai flight , and Lufthansa's Frankfurt-Hyderabad flight were forced toreturn to their origin after takeoff. Last week, an Air India flight to London, using the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, crashed in Ahmedabad moments after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. Air India's Hong Kong- Delhi flight An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane bound for New Delhi returned to its origin of Hong Kong shortly around 15 minutes after takeoff on Monday as a precautionary measure following a suspected technical issue. In a statement, Air India said on Monday that flight AI315 returned to Hong Kong because of what it described as "a technical issue" without giving details. The flight landed safely and was undergoing checks "as a matter of abundant precaution", it added. According to Reuters citing recordings posted on air traffic control monitoring website one of the pilots in the plane told air traffic controllers around 15 minutes after takeoff that 'for technical reasons, sir, we would like to stay closer to Hong Kong, maybe we will come back and land back into Hong Kong once we sort out the problem.' Lufthansa's Frankfurt-Hyderabad flight A Lufthansa flight to Hyderabad was forced to make a U-turn and returned to land at Frankfurt Airport due to a bomb threat, the airline said on Monday. Flight LH752 departed from Germany around 14.14 local time Sunday and was scheduled to land at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in the early hours of Monday but flight tracker data showed a diversion a few hours into the flight. Lufthansa said the passengers had been provided overnight accommodation in Frankfurt and are scheduled to resume their journey to Hyderabad on Monday morning. 'Out of an abundance of caution, Lufthansa flight LH752 from Frankfurt to Hyderabad returned to its point of departure after authorities were made aware of a bomb threat posted on social media,' Lufthansa said in a statement. 'The safety of our passengers and crew is Lufthansa's highest priority. Affected passengers were provided with accommodation in Frankfurt and will be continuing their journey to Hyderabad today,' the statement said. British Airways London-Chennai flight A Chennai-bound British Airways Boeing Dreamliner returned to London due to a technical snag on Sunday. The flight landed safely with crew and passengers disembarking as they normally would, British Airways said in a statement. The development comes days after an Air India Boeing Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad killing 241 passengers and crew members on board. The airline, however, did not share other details such as the departure time of the flight, the number of passengers and crew on board and for how long the aircraft remained airborne before it returned to London.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
COCOMI calls for unity in honouring crash victims
Imphal: As Manipur waits for the arrival of the mortal remains of two AI 171 crash victims, COCOMI has appealed to all sections of society to cooperate in receiving the remains at Imphal airport. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It has also urged the state govt and relevant authorities to arrange smooth transfer of the remains to the victims' respective homes. COCOMI assured the families of the two crash victims — Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma of Thoubal and Namlunthiem Singson of Kanpokpi — of full support during the repatriation and final rites. Calling for unity in grief, COCOMI urged the people of Manipur to honour the return of the deceased with dignity and love as the state is mourning the loss of its two promising daughters. DNA identification of the bodies is currently underway and expected to take around 72 hours, after which the remains would be flown to Manipur. On the other hand, the AAI in Imphal said it would extend all possible support and assistance for the arrival of the remains at Imphal airport. "We extend our deepest condolences on the tragic loss of Ms Namlunthiem Singson (26) and Ms Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailakpam (20)—beloved daughters of Manipur and esteemed members of the 10-member cabin crew aboard Air India Flight AI 171, which met with a tragic accident shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12," AAI stated in a press note. "Their unwavering commitment to duty, exemplified by grace, professionalism, and courage, will be remembered with profound respect and enduring admiration," the note added while condoling the deaths.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Dibrugarh airport conducts aircraft familiarisation training
1 2 3 4 5 6 Dibrugarh: In view of heightened safety concerns following the recent Air India plane crash at Ahmedabad, Dibrugarh Airport's Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) team successfully completed comprehensive aircraft familiarisation training on Monday using an Air India Express aircraft VT-RTI. The training was designed to equip both technical and non-technical personnel — including pilots, engineers, and ground staff — with in-depth knowledge of aircraft systems and emergency protocols. The programme covered key components of the aircraft, including electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems, along with their potential hazards. Special emphasis was placed on emergency shutdown procedures, evacuation protocols, and firefighting techniques to mitigate risks during crisis. "Aircraft familiarisation training is not just about knowing the aircraft, it's about ensuring every team member can act swiftly and effectively during emergencies. Understanding the aircraft's systems is crucial for safe operations, especially in high-pressure scenarios. This exercise ensures that all personnel, from cockpit crew to ground staff, are aligned in their response strategies," an airport official said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like finance courses for corporate employees wealthci Shop Now Undo The Ahmedabad crash had raised concerns over emergency preparedness at regional airports. Authorities at Dibrugarh airport stated that the training was part of a broader initiative to review and strengthen safety measures. "Regular drills like these ensure that our teams remain vigilant and well-prepared to handle any situation," the official said.
