'Called For An Emergency...': 'Dedicated' Air India Employee Cut Short His Sick Leave To Join Flight
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On the day of the tragedy, Deepak had called his mother from Ahmedabad in the morning, telling her he was about to depart for London.
The Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has thrown up various untold and heartbreaking stories, one of which is particularly poignant. Deepak Pathak, a cabin crew member with Air India, was called in for duty on June 11 due to an emergency, despite being on sick leave.
He wasn't originally scheduled for the ill-fated flight on June 12, which ultimately claimed his life. His family said Deepka was a dedicated employee, adding that if he had refused to report for duty, he would be alive today.
Deepak's two sisters left for Ahmedabad on Thursday. Their DNA samples were taken on Friday to help identify his body. Deepak was a resident of Katrap, Badlapur East, where he lived with his mother, father and his wife of four years.
Deepak's father, Babasaheb, had retired from Central Railway 15 years prior and subsequently relocated from Mumbai to Badlapur.
According to Deepak's cousin, Sachin Khadtale, Deepak had been promoted to cabin crew six months prior. He typically worked on international flights, often returning home after 10 to 15 days. Recently, when he came, his health was not good, Sachin told TOI.
Deepak's elder sister Shruti said whenever Deepak went on a trip, he used to call his mother and tell her about his trip before taking the flight.
On the day of the tragedy, Deepak had called his mother from Ahmedabad in the morning, telling her he was about to depart for London. That call turned out to be his last conversation with his family.
When Shruti and her family heard about the crash on Thursday afternoon, they initially didn't think Deepak was on the flight. However, as his phone kept ringing unanswered, they grew worried. The situation became more alarming when his phone was eventually switched off, and they later saw his name in the cabin crew list.
His inconsolable parents were not in a position to travel to Ahmedabad, and his sisters stepped in.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which crashed into a residential hostel shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport for London Gatwick, killed at least 274 people, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground.
First Published:
June 14, 2025, 14:09 IST
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