Dreams cut short in Ahmedabad plane crash: The Air India crew members who never came home
As
Air India
flight AI‑171 fell from the sky on Thursday and struck a doctors' hostel in Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff, many promises were left unfinished and phone calls went unanswered. The tragedy has cut short the journeys of young crew members who were looking forward to reconnecting with their families and making future plans.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal
, a veteran pilot with 8,200 flying hours under his belt, had made a promise just days earlier to take a break from his hectic schedule and spend more time with his 82‑year‑old father. 'A few days ago, he promised to take a break to spend time with his father,' said MLA Dilip Mama Lande, who met the family. The senior Sabharwal is a former DGCA official.
For co-pilot
Clive Kunder
's family, the shock came in a phone call that never arrived. His former landlord, Kenneth Carvalho, explained: 'Clive's parents are in Australia, visiting their daughter. We are all very shocked.' His brother Danny, who lives in the city, was also unreachable for comment.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Play War Thunder now for free
War Thunder
Play Now
Undo
Aparna Mahadik, 42, a cabin crew member, leaves behind her husband Amol — who is Air India cabin crew himself — and is the nephew of NCP MP Sunil Tatkare. The couple lived in Oberoi Esquire in Goregaon East.
For
Saineeta Chakravarti
, the tragedy struck without her elderly parents in Juhu Koliwada having a chance to say goodbye. Saineeta, previously a stewardess with
Indigo
, had recently joined Air India. 'Her elderly parents learned of the tragedy through neighbours and television news reports. The family was yet to receive any formal communication from Air India.'
Live Events
Nganthoi Sharma K, a native of Manipur, Shradha Dhavan and Irfan Shaikh were also believed to have died in the incident.
Deepak Pathak, a Badlapur resident who lived in Katrap with his wife and parents, had been with Air India for 11 years. 'Deepak had informed his mother in the morning that he was in Ahmedabad, headed to London. After the incident, his family members kept calling him, but his phone was unreachable.'
Roshni Songhare, a young, single cabin crew and social media influencer from Dombivli, lived with her parents and brother in Rajaji Path. Her brother and father rushed to Ahmedabad in the evening after the tragedy.
For 22‑year‑old Maithili Patil from Nhava in Uran, flying was a lifelong dream. Her maternal uncle Jitendra Mhatre said: 'She always wanted to take up aviation as a career. She last spoke on the phone with her father at 11.30am from Ahmedabad, to say she was on her way to London.' Her parents were left stunned and in shock.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Against all odds — Seat 11A survivor escaped Air India crash from front, not the ‘statistically safer' rear
Vishwaskumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of Thursday's Air India flight 171 crash that killed 241 people, defied all odds to make it out alive. Remarkably, he escaped from the front of the aircraft—an area typically considered less safe than the rear in the event of a crash. Kumar, who is currently recovering from injuries in a local hospital, told DD News — 'The side of the plane I was on landed on the ground next to the hostel. When the door broke, I saw that there was space, and tried to get out. On the opposite side, there was the hostel, and I saw no one could leave from there. There was some space (to exit) only where I was (seated).' Row 11 on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner—the aircraft that crashed into a hostel for medical students in Ahmedabad—is located just behind an exit door on either side, with business class seats positioned ahead. Seat 11A, a window seat, is right next to the exit door, with a cabin crew seat facing it directly in front. 'It all happened before my eyes. I myself can't believe how I escaped alive. For some time, I also thought I'm going to die. However, when my eyes opened, I realised I'm alive. I removed my seat belt and tried to leave the plane. In front of me, an air hostess and some passengers were all dead,' Kumar said in the video interview. A confluence of factors would have resulted in Kumar coming out alive from the crash. Which is the safest seat in an aircraft and would 11A qualify? There is no clear answer. But the tail section is seen to be the safest from a statistical point of view. Kumar was seated just ahead of the wing box area, the projected part of the wing that is structurally stronger than the rest of the aircraft. The wings are loaded with jet fuel and likely exploded on impact. Being ahead by three rows would have helped. By sheer luck, the section of the aircraft where Kumar was seated struck the ground—unlike the tail, which lodged atop the hostel—and somewhat withstood the impact of the explosion. More importantly, an exit door immediately to his left, with open space outside, provided a clear path to escape, according to his testimony. Statistically, the front of the plane—where Kumar escaped from—is considered less safe than the rear. The Time magazine, in a 2015 study, analysed 35 years of crash data up to that year and reported that fewer people who were sitting in the back died in plane crashes. According to the study, seats in the back third of the aircraft had a 32 per cent fatality rate, compared with 39 per cent in the middle third, and 38 per cent in the front third. Looking at row position, the study found that the middle seats in the rear of the aircraft had the best outcomes (28 per cent fatality rate). The worst-faring seats were on the aisle in the middle third of the aircraft cabin (44 per cent fatality rate). In April 2012, a team of television studios staged an airplane crash in Mexico, where a Boeing 727-200 fitted with crash test dummies and other scientific instruments was flown into the ground. The test result showed that passengers at the front of an aircraft would be the ones most at risk in a crash, while those seated closer to the airplane's wings were reported as having suffered survivable injuries. The test dummies near the tail section were largely intact, so most passengers there would have likely walked away without serious injury. Another study, done by American popular science magazine Popular Mechanics in 2007, found that those seated behind the trailing edge of the aircraft wing had a survival rate of 69 per cent. It was 56 per cent for those in the middle section, and 49 per cent for the seats in the front of the plane. These statistical trends are very specific to the circumstances of the crash in question. In some crashes, such as when the tail hits the ground first, fatalities could be higher in the rear of the aircraft. In others, where the front or the middle of the aircraft bears the major brunt of the impact, those in the rear may have a better shot at surviving the accident. It is worth noting that the Time magazine study found that in a number of crashes, survival was random — 'those who perished were scattered irregularly between survivors'. The FAA has consistently stated that there is not any one section of an airplane that is more or less safe than another and that the most important thing passengers can do for their safety on any flight is follow crewmember instructions.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Karnataka SSLC result 2025: Re-evaluation application begins on this date, here is how to apply online
The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) announced the results for the SSLC 2 (Supplementary) Exam on June 13, 2025. Held from May 26 to June 3, this was the second opportunity for students who did not clear the main SSLC exam earlier this year. With the results now declared, students who are dissatisfied with their scores can apply for revaluation, re-totalling, or request photocopies of their answer scripts. This process ensures transparency and gives students a fair chance to challenge discrepancies in their evaluation. Applications for re-evaluation will open June 16, 2025 onwards. Candidates who wish to apply for re-checking and re-evaluation will be able to submit applications till June 19, 2025. Important Dates for SSLC 2025 Re-evaluation Check application and other important Karnataka SSLC re-evaluation dates here: Photocopy application window: June 13 to 17, 2025 Revaluation application window: June 16, 2025 onwards. Last date for online application submission: By June 19, 2025. Re-evaluation result announcement: To be notified later (typically 2–3 weeks after the deadline). SSLC Exam 3 (next attempt): Scheduled from July 5 to 12, 2025. Re-evaluation, Retotalling, and Photocopy Fees The re-evaluation process is done only after students obtain the photocopy of their Karnataka SSLC answer sheets. Check fee details here Photocopy of answer script: Rs. 400 per subject Re-evaluation (includes photocopy): Rs. 800 per subject Re-totalling only: Free of cost Note: Photocopy is a mandatory step before applying for revaluation. How to apply for Karnataka SSLC re-evaluation 2025? Follow these steps to apply through the official KSEAB portal: Visit the official website: Navigate to the "Revaluation / Photocopy Application" link on the homepage. Select the exam name (SSLC Exam-2, 2025). Enter your registration number and subject details. Choose your preferred service: photocopy, re-evaluation, or retotalling. Pay the applicable fee using online payment options. Submit the application and download the confirmation receipt for your records. It is advised to retain all transaction details and print the acknowledgment slip for future reference. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Instructions for students Keep the following instructions in mind before submitting your SSLC re-evaluation application online. Only those who request a photocopy can proceed for re-evaluation. Application once submitted cannot be edited; check subject codes carefully. Re-evaluation requests cannot be withdrawn or cancelled after submission. Results of re-evaluation will be final and applicable for further admission or SSLC-3 exam eligibility. For the most accurate and up-to-date details, candidates are advised to visit the official KSEAB website regularly and consult with their school authorities in case of any confusion. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tech fails to fill silence for the elderly; Report shows how digital age has spawned new challenges
NEW DELHI: Neelam Maini is 70 and did not own a mobile phone till she retired from a govt job in 2015. The smartphone came into her life as a gift from her children, who also became her mentors, introducing her to internet banking and the world of social media and WhatsApp. Ten years on, as vice-president of Sant Nagar Senior Citizens' Welfare Association that has 400 members on a WhatsApp group, Maini has found that even as the mobile phone has opened a world of communication, helping bridge the generational digital divide, it has also created a deeper problem for many urban elderly people. With the younger generation mostly hooked to their devices — laptops and phones— and social media, more and more elderly people are feeling lonely as their children and grandchildren have little time for deeper engagement with them. This clearly comes through in a survey by HelpAge India released on Friday, ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. It reveals that a large number of senior citizens already struggling with loneliness and challenges of ageing now also have to contend with problems of the digital age. The survey, which focused on 'intergenerational dynamics and perceptions on ageing', draws on the experiences of 5,798 respondents that included youth and elderly people from 10 cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Nagpur and Madurai. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo 'Everyone is on the phone these days, even at the dining table, including elders. But parents feel hurt when they cannot have a meaningful conversation with children and grandchildren. At times, their family members have time to chat with them only on phone while on the way to work,' Maini told TOI , sharing this as one of the experiences of seniors, who yearn for face-to-face conversations with their kin. 'Children don't sit and talk anymore. They are always on their phones,' complained a senior citizen from Kolkata. 'They don't always listen, but when do they talk to us, it makes the day go better,' said an elderly person from Kanpur. 'I just stay silent these days. If we speak, they say we're complaining again,' bemoaned a senior from Madurai. The problem is not just inter-generational. 'We used to gossip with friends in the past. Now we scroll silently. Even loneliness has gone digital,' said another senior from Kolkata. The findings gain significance against the backdrop of India's population profile: as of 2025, approximately 12% of the Indian population is aged 60 and above, with the figure projected to rise to 19% by 2050. At the same time, India is home to the world's largest youth population, with over 365 million individuals aged 15–29 years. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
