UK investigators arrive in India as tributes pour in for plane crash victims
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.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspecting the scene (Narendra Modi on X/AP)
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.
The sole surviving passenger, British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, is still under observation for some of his injuries but is 'doing very well and will be ready to be discharged any time soon', Dr Gameti said.
The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) announced on Friday night that four of its investigators had arrived in India and have expertise in aircraft operations, engineering and recorded data.
The 'release of information on the investigation rests solely with the Indian authorities', it added.
The black box flight recorder was recovered from a roof near the crash site and could reveal vital clues about the cause of the accident.
Hundreds of relatives have provided DNA samples to help officials identify victims' remains
A radiologist from Derby who had a 'newly discovered love of fish and chips' was on the flight with his family, the city's Hindu Temple said.
Dr Prateek Joshi, who worked at the Royal Derby Hospital, moved to the UK from India in 2021, a colleague said.
Dr Prateek Joshi (University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust/PA)
Dr Rajeev Singh said: 'He often entertained colleagues with stories about his passions outside of work, including his newly discovered love of fish and chips and enthusiasm for walking in the Peak District.
'It is hard to accept that a man with such a passion for life, and his beautiful young family, have been taken in this way.'
Two sisters in their early 20s on their way home to London after surprising their grandmother for her birthday are also said to be among the victims.
A cousin who lives in Ahmedabad said fashion designer Dhir and product manager Heer Baxi had an 'amazing aura'.
'They both had aspirations to be successful enough to roam around the world along with the parents,' Ishan Baxi said.
Heer and Dhir Baxi with their grandmother (Family handout/PA)
Both women knew 'what is right and what is wrong', he added.
'Right now, no one is able to come to terms because they both came here just to celebrate grandma's birthday but… they came, they celebrated, and they both left the world, everything is vanished right in front of our eyes.'
A couple who had already lost their only son in a previous aviation tragedy were on the plane, said Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who leads the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London.
'This couple had gone to India for a religious celebration – they were coming back and now this has happened,' he said.
Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji (Yui Mok/PA)
'After what has happened to their son as well – it's just terrible to think about.'
A family of three from Gloucester were also on the flight, their family said.
Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa were 'widely loved and deeply respected'.
Ms Vorajee volunteered at a local Islamic school and was also a director of an organisation promoting understanding of the religion, an imam said.
Mr Nanabawa ran a recruitment firm called Iceberg Recruitment Services which had a branch in Ahmedabad, according to the company's website.
Speaking in Gloucester on Friday, Zaheera Nanabawa said her cousin Akeel was the 'glue' that held the family together.
'They were away as part of their trip to Singapore and Malaysia, before they went to India,' she said.
'This whole news is absolutely shocking and devastating for us, and it will leave a hole within our family.'
Their imam, Abdullah Samad, said: 'This young family was incredibly close-knit – devoted parents and their beautiful young daughter.'
The British survivor spoke of the horror of watching people 'dying in front of my eyes'.
From his hospital bed on Friday, Mr Ramesh told DD News: 'I still can't believe how I survived.'
The 40-year-old told the broadcaster the plane felt like it was 'stuck in the air' shortly after take-off before lights began flickering green and white, adding: 'It suddenly slammed into a building and exploded.'
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been in contact with him to offer consular support, Downing Street said.
The crash site was visited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, with video footage showing him talking to Mr Ramesh in hospital.
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Daily Record
36 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Loved ones hail Britons feared dead in Air India plane crash as airline confirms death toll
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If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Raxa Modha, Rudra Modha and K Mistri Raj Mishra, the mayor of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, announced the deaths of three people from his community. He said: "Among those lost were Raxa Modha, infant Rudra Modha, and Ms K Mistri, all from our Wellingborough community. "I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends and all those affected by this heartbreaking event. May their memories be a blessing, and may we come together to support one another in this time of grief." 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I am unable to control my tears even now also just because I was close to them, you just imagine what emotions parents are going through right now. "Think about guilt the grandma would feel right now. I just want God to bless those souls, all dreams, promises, aspirations vanished in seconds." Heer worked a product manager and "loved statistics and finance", while Dhir was a fashion designer who had studied in Paris, their cousin said. Arjun Patoliya Two children were orphaned when Arjun Patoliya was killed in the Air India plane crash after travelling to scatter his wife's ashes in her homeland, according to a fundraiser for the family. Mr 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. 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Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Small detail in Brit survivor's memory of Air India plane crash could solve mystery
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North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Girls orphaned when father died in Air India crash after scattering wife's ashes
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.
