Father returning home after scattering wife's ashes among Air India victims
A father returning home after scattering his wife's ashes was among the victims of the Air India crash, leaving his two young children suddenly orphaned.
Flight 171 was carrying 242 people when it struck a medical college hostel less than a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, in western India.
Twenty-nine people on the ground were killed, taking the total number of victims to 270. A hospital official confirmed 270 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, but DNA testing is being conducted to identify the bodies.
Just one passenger, a British man from Leicester, survived what has become the worst aviation crash in a decade.
Among the victims, 37-year-old Arjun Patoliya had been visiting India to fulfil his wife Bharti's "final wish" to be laid to rest in her hometown of Gujarat.
Bharti had died just over two weeks ago, following a "courageous battle with cancer".
A GoFundMe page, set up to raise funds for their two children, says: "Arjun left to bid farewell to his wife, never returned to the children they both raised.
"Now, these two beautiful young girls have been left without parents - their world turned upside down in just over two weeks."
A fundraiser, which has topped more than a quarter of a million pounds, confirms all money raised will go directly into a legal trust, "to ensure every penny is dedicated to the girls' needs".
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Black box has been found
India's aviation ministry says workers have recovered the digital flight data recorder - one of two black boxes on the plane, from the rooftop of the building where it crashed.
This box has data on engine and control settings, so will be able to show if there was a loss of engine power or lift after takeoff.
The investigation will initially focus on the engine, flaps and landing gear, a source told Reuters on Friday.
A possible bird-hit is not among the key areas of focus, the source said, adding that teams of anti-terror experts were part of the investigation process.
There is no information yet on the cockpit voice recorder, the other black box, which will be a crucial part of understanding what caused the plane to crash.
The country's civil aviation regulator has ordered Air India to do additional maintenance and enhanced safety inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines.
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Arjun Patoliya, 37, was killed 18 days after his wife Bharti had died from cancer, the GoFundMe page to support their daughters, aged four and eight, said. The Briton had travelled to Gujarat to fulfil his wife's 'final wish'. By Saturday afternoon more than £370,000 had been raised to help the girls. The fundraiser, organised by Mr Patoliya's colleague, said: 'Their mother, Bharti Patoliya, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. 'Fulfilling her final wish, her husband Arjun Patoliya travelled to India to scatter her ashes in her homeland in Gujarat.' It added: 'Arjun left to bid farewell to his wife, never returned to the children they both raised. 'Now, these two beautiful young girls have been left without parents — their world turned upside down in just over two weeks.' Mr Patoliya worked at furniture manufacturer Inspired Elements Ltd, based in Stanmore, north-west London. The company, which organised the GoFundMe appeal, posted a tribute on social media saying: 'We are deeply saddened to share the (loss) of a cherished member of our team in the recent Air India flight tragedy. 'Our hearts are heavy with grief as we come to terms with this profound loss. 'Arjun was not just a colleague but also a dear friend. His dedication, kindness, and spirit has left a lasting mark on us all'. Mr Patoliya had attended Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul International School in Surat, western India. A teacher at the secondary school said on social media: 'It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our dear former student. 'This news has deeply saddened us all. Arjun was a cherished member of our Gurukul family, and his untimely departure is a great loss.' More than 8,700 donations had been made to the GoFundMe by Saturday afternoon, including many of more than £1,000, and one of £5,000. Money has been pledged to go towards providing a 'stable, nurturing home' for the girls and ensuring they can access education. Organisers said they will also use the donations to 'establish trusted long-term wellbeing care' and 'build a future rooted in love, healing, and opportunity. 'All funds raised will go directly to a legal trust or the appointed guardians to ensure every penny is dedicated to the girls' needs.' The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take off on Thursday in what is one of the deadliest plane accidents in terms of the number of British nationals killed. It struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. At least 25 more bodies were found in the debris by recovery crews working at the site until Friday evening, officials said, and it is unclear whether they had been on the flight or on the ground. The Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad has received 270 bodies, Dr Dhaval Gameti told the Associated Press.
