Family posted final selfie inside plane with haunting message just before crash
A family of five on the doomed India Air Flight 171 shared a haunting final photo just minutes before it crashed, killing all but one of the 242 people on board
A family shared a tragic selfie on board the doomed Air India Flight 171 just minutes before it crashed. The family of five from Rajasthan included Komi Vyas and husband Prateek Joshi, both doctors, seen sitting on the aisle opposite their children, all with beaming smiles.
Joshi had moved to London a few years ago and his family were set to join him in the British capital. But just a few minutes later, the flight would crash in a residential area of Ahmedabad with 241 of the 242 people on board killed. One British national is understood to be the sole survivor of the disaster.
A spokesperson for Pacific Hospital where Komi worked said: "Komi had quit her job recently to join her husband in London." Neighbour's told the network that Joshi's dad is a well-respected radiologist in the city.
"They left for Amedabad yesterday to take the flight to London," Joshi's cousin Nayan said. "Prateek had come here just two days ago to take his wife and children with him. Several other members of both families went to see them off."
Vyas' brother told NDTV the couple had been married for 10 years. The doomed Air India flight had been bound for London Gatwick when it crashed into a fireball on Thursday.
Of the 242 people on board the plane, 53 were said to be British and 11 of the passengers were children. Officials have recovered 200 bodies so far.
Harrowing images from the disaster showed the plane flying low over several buildings before it crashed. Indian officials have since launched an investigation into the crash.
Captain Saurabh Bhatnagar, a former senior pilot, told NDTV: "The take-off was perfect and just, I believe, short of taking the gear up, the aircraft started descending, which can happen only in case the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift. Obviously, the investigation will reveal the exact reason."
So far British national Vishwash Kumar Rames, 40, is believed to be the only survivor of the disaster. Speaking in Hindi, he said: "I just got out of the plane, it exploded."
Taking to X/ Twitter following the crash, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted: "The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.
"In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected."
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