Air India plane crash: Death toll climbs to 270 as search for bodies continues
The cause of the crash is unknown, but one black box has been recovered.
At least 270 people have now been confirmed dead by search and recovery teams scouring the wreckage of an Air India flight which crashed in India days ago.
The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when it fell in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff.
Recovery teams working until late on Friday found at least 25 more bodies in the debris, officials said.
The death toll previously stood at 241 people - including passengers on board the flight and medical students on the ground - but the number of people killed on the ground was expected to rise.
De Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad said the facility had received 270 bodies, adding that the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds.
'He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,' Gameti said Saturday.
Vishwash's brother, Nayankumar Ramesh, has told ITV News of the family's shock after they received a call from him shortly after the plane crashed.
"When the plane crashed, he called my dad, saying the plane had crashed, and I'm not sure how I made it out. He was confused. He couldn't see our other brother," he said.
Ajay Kumar Ramesh is still unaccounted for.
Three Britons who died in the crash were named by the Gloucester Muslim Community on Facebook as Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa and their four-year-old daughter Sara.
British couple Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, who run a spiritual wellness centre, were also reportedly killed.
The plane crash is one of the deadliest in terms of the number of British nationals killed and the first involving a 787.
The plane's black box was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site Friday, and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it has begun its work with 'full force.'
A committee formed to investigate the root cause of the crash will report within three months, the Indian government's ministry of civil aviation said.The committee will have access to flight data, cockpit voice recordings and maintenance records.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has launched an investigation in line with global protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
A team from the US and the UK are being deployed to India to support the investigation.
Aviation experts have speculated about a number of possible causes for the crash, from both engines failing – possibly due to a bird strike, as happened in the so-called Miracle on the Hudson in 2009 – to the flaps on the aircraft's wings not being set to the correct position for take-off.
Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, said it would provide 10 million rupees (around £86,000) to the families of each of those killed in the crash.The company said it would also cover the medical costs of the injured and provide support in the 'building up' of the medical college.Air India has set up friends and relatives assistance centres at Gatwick, Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad airports to provide support in the wake of AI171's crash.
The airline's UK operations are based at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said any British nationals requiring consular assistance, or who have concerns about family or friends, should call 020 7008 5000.
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BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wait for bodies deepens pain of families after Air India crash
For Mistry Jignesh, 72 hours feel like an Thursday evening, Mr Jignesh and his family have been doing the rounds of the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, trying to find details of his 22-year-old niece - one of the 242 passengers that died in an Air India plane crash earlier that had been telling him they would return his niece's body in the 72 hours normally required to complete DNA matching - which end on on Saturday, he was told that it might take longer as officials are still searching for bodies from the site of the crash, he claimed."When people are still missing, how can they possibly complete the DNA process by tomorrow? What if my niece's remains have not even been found? The wait is killing us," he have refused to comment on Mr Jignesh's claim, but a fire department officer and a police official told the BBC on the condition of anonymity that a search for remains of the passengers is still under Patel, additional superintendent of the Civil Hospital, said on Saturday that 11 victims had been identified so far based on their DNA samples, adding that their families had been informed. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was on its way to London's Gatwick Airport, erupted in a fireball merely seconds after it took off from Ahmedabad's main airport, in what has been India's worst aviation one of the 242 passengers and crew on board survived. At least eight others were killed as the plane struck the hostel of a medical college when it came down on a densely populated residential area near the have moved swiftly Indian government has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident and has ordered all Boeing 787s operated by local carriers to be inspected. While the reason of the crash remains unknown, the country's aviation authority has said it is looking into all possible causes for the accident, also bringing in foreign aviation experts to assist with the Verify on what could have caused the crashEverything we know so far about flight AI171Analysis: What does this mean for Boeing?Back at the hospital, doctors are racing to complete the DNA sampling of the victims so that they can start returning bodies to their for families like Mr Jignesh's, time passes in dragging have talked about how the process of identifying bodies has been extremely challenging - and is being carried out in small batches - as most of the remains have been charred beyond recognition."There is no scope for mistakes here - we have to ensure that every family receives the right body," said HP Sanghvi, the director of Directorate of Forensic Sciences in Gandhinagar city. "But DNA identification is a time-consuming process. Besides, given the scale of the disaster, there is also a possibility that the DNA of several passengers was damaged due to the extremely high temperature of the blast."Jaishankar Pillai, a forensic dentist at the hospital, told reporters that his team has been trying to collect dental records from charred bodies, as that might be the only source of DNA left. The wait has been beyond agonising for the families, many of whom refused to speak to the media, saying they just want to go back home with "whatever is left of their loved ones"."We are in no condition to say anything. Words fail us right now," a woman, who was waiting with three members of her family outside the autopsy room, told the BBC impatiently, as she quickly slipped into her details continue to emerge, who are the victims?British man is only passenger to survive India plane crashMeanwhile, officials at the BJ Medical College have started to vacate several wards of the hostel, near which the plane struck. So far, four wards - including the hostel canteen, the site of the crash - have been completely emptied students living in other nearby wings of the hostel have also begun to leave."In one of the wards, there are just three people left - everyone else has gone back to their homes for now. They will leave soon too, but until then, they are sitting there, all alone, haunted by the memory of what has happened," their friend, who is also a student at the college and wanted to stay anonymous, between the college and hospital - in the vast expanse of this city of more than seven million people - there are many others who also are reeling from the last Kartik Kalawadia heard of his brother Mahesh was on Thursday, some 30 minutes before the was a phone call Mahesh made to his wife: "I am coming home," he said to never heard from him again.A music producer in the Gujarati film industry, Mahesh had been on his way back home from work that day and was crossing the area when the plane hurtled down and crashed into the Kalawadia told the BBC that his brother's last location before his phone became unreachable was just a few hundred metres away from BJ Medical family has since filed a police complaint and has made countless visits to the Civil Hospital. They have found nothing so far."The hospital told us they have no record of my brother. We also tried tracing his scooter, but nothing came of that either," Mr Kalawadia said."It's like he vanished into thin air." At a press conference on Saturday, Civil Aviation Secretary SK Sinha admitted that the last two days had been "very hard", but assured the investigation was proceeding smoothly and in the right Mr Kalawadia wondered if any of these inquires - into the plane crash, the victims and beyond - would help him find his brother, dead or alive."We don't know the answer, but we can hope it's a positive one, I guess," he at the Civil Hospital, the wait continues to haunt the BBC last met Imtiyaz Ali Sayed over Thursday night, he was still in denial that his family - his brother Javed along with his wife and two children - could have died in the on Saturday, he seemed closer to "accepting the truth"."With just a few hours left, we are now trying to decide what will it be: will we bury him here, or in the UK, where his wife's family lives," he said."To me, it makes no difference you know?" he continued, "because he's gone, from ashes to dust and back to God."
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Loved ones hail Britons feared dead in Air India plane crash as airline confirms death toll
There were 53 Britons on the flight when it went down. Tributes have been paid to Britons feared dead after a Gatwick-bound plane crashed in India, including two wellness advocates and a couple with a four-year-old daughter. Air India confirmed 241 of the 242 people on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were killed on Thursday, in one of the deadliest plane crashes in terms of the number of British nationals killed. The airline said the plane was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian. Here we look at what is known so far about some of the Britons thought to have died. Jamie and Fiongal The couple, who ran a spiritual wellness centre, are said to be among the dead. The pair laughed and joked as they filmed a video of themselves at the airport before taking off. Mr Greenlaw appeared on ITV's This Morning earlier this year to talk about wellness. Former editor of the show Martin Frizell praised his "vibrancy" and "enthusiasm". In an Instagram post, he said: "So so sad to hear that Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek and his partner are reported to be among the passengers and crew killed today on board the Air India flight bound for Gatwick. I remember his visit to the studio in January, he was passionate about auras and although I'm a sceptical sort, his vibrancy and sheer enthusiasm won folk over." Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa The family of three from Gloucester were "widely loved and deeply respected", their family said in statement issued through their Imam. Ms Vorajee volunteered at a local Islamic school and was also a director for an organisation promoting understanding of the religion, Imam Abdullah Samad said. Mr Nanabawa ran a recruitment firm called Iceberg Recruitment Services which had a branch in Ahmedabad, India, according to the company's website. Imam Abdullah Samad said: "This young family was incredibly close-knit - devoted parents and their beautiful young daughter. "They gave their time and energy to awareness campaigns and fundraising efforts, always guided by a strong sense of responsibility to help others. They were widely loved and deeply respected. His quiet generosity, her warmth and kindness, and their daughter's bright, joyful spirit made a lasting impact on everyone who knew them. She was a ray of sunshine in her school and they were a pillar of strength in our lives." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! 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." Ajay Kumar Ramesh Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, is believed to be the only survivor of the crash. His older brother Ajay was also reportedly on the flight. Speaking outside the family home in Leicester, Jay, a relative of the brothers, said Vishwash spoke to his father after the crash and asked after his brother. Jay told PA: "After the crash he spoke to his dad worrying about his brother saying, 'Where's Ajay'?" Dr Prateek Joshi and family Dr Prateek Joshi, a radiologist at the Royal Derby Hospital, was on the Air India flight with his family, Derby Hindu Temple said. Dr Joshi had moved to Derby from India in 2021, a colleague who worked closely with him said. 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. "He touched the lives of so many people, both through his clinical work and as a colleague and friend to many. 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." Mariam and Javed Ali Syed and their two children Mariam and Javed Ali Syed and their two children, five-year-old Zayn and four-year-old Amani, were on the flight returning from a holiday in India, Ms Ali Syed's sister-in-law told the Telegraph. Mr Ali Syed is reported to have worked at a hotel in London while Ms Ali Syed had reportedly worked for Harrods for a decade. Speaking to the Telegraph about the couple's young children, Yasmine Hassan said: "They are so small, they are five and four. And it's just thinking how scared they must have been." Adam and Hasina Taju, and their son-in-law Altafhusen Patel Adam Taju, 72 and his wife Hasina, 70, were flying with their son-in-law Altafhusen Patel, 51, the couple's granddaughter told the BBC. Ammaarah Taju, from Blackburn, Lancashire, told the broadcaster of her shock and disbelief. Sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi Sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi, both in their early 20s, were returning home to London on the Air India flight after surprising their grandmother for her birthday. Speaking to the PA news agency, Ishan Baxi, a cousin who lives in Ahmedabad, said both women had an "amazing aura" and wanted to "roam the world". "They both had aspirations to be successful enough to roam around the world like tension-free along with the parents, and they had proclivity towards modernisation without changing traditional values," he said. Both women knew "what is right and what is wrong", Mr Baxi added. "Right now no one is able to come (to) terms because they both came here just to celebrate grandma's birthday. He said: "But, see, the tragedy - they came, they celebrated and they both left the world, everything is vanished right in front of our eyes. 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. 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. Panna Nagar Former nursery headteacher and Ofsted inspector Panna Nagar held her family together "with her warmth and wisdom", her grandchildren have said. A social media post signed from her four grandchildren said: "Her work in education and numerous charities brought her around the world, her legacy is undoubtedly immense and she touched so many lives with her passion. "She created an international community through her care for people and a desire to bring education to everyone." Ms Nagar headed Northfleet Nursery School in Gravesend, Kent, for 15 years from 2005. "Her impact will be remembered indefinitely. She poured an endless amount of love, passion and care into everything that she did", her grandchildren said. "Nani was the heart of the family, she held us together with her warmth and wisdom. Her house was never quiet, it was always filled with laughter, good food and Maya's barks! As her grandchildren she was everything to us, she taught us that our ambitions and passions are so important, that the time we have together is sacred and precious. "She shaped our lives in more ways than we can count and she will be sorely missed." Northfleet Nursery School said Ms Nagar was "more than just an educator she was a guiding light, an inspiration and a champion for every child and staff member lucky enough to walk through her doors". Master Mohammed Adnan Master Mohammed Adnan had a wife and 11-month-old baby, the mosque he worshipped at has said. The Cann Hall Deen & Education Trust, east London, posted on social media: "It is with great grief that we share the news that one of our own worshippers, Master Mohammed Adnan, was aboard the ill-fated flight. Our sincerest condolences are extended to his wife and their 11-month-old baby." Kalyani and Gaurav Brahmbhatt Trupti Telrandhe told BBC News she has been "deeply saddened" after learning her close friends Kalyani and Gaurav Brahmbhatt were onboard. Gaurav and her husband Amul spent five years working together at a company in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, she said. Ms Telrandhe added: "They were extremely hard-working and very friendly, fun-loving, always motivated us to have big dreams." Manju Mahesh Patel Manju Mahesh Patel, 79, had been staying in Ahmedabad to carry out charity work at a temple and was due to return home to the UK on Thursday. Her son, Chirag Mahesh Patel, told Sky News she was sitting in seat 12D - just one row behind the only survivor of the crash - and that he would relive her final moments "to the day I die". "She had ultimate faith ... in times of stress she would always say God's name," he said. "So I know that upon take-off, she was saying his name." Mr Patel described his mother as a strong woman who "really loved her family" and said she had packed her suitcase with lollipops and special crisps for her grandchildren, aged six and 15. "She was so looking forward to seeing us," he said. "It's unimaginable, even in my worst nightmare."
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Air India crash survivor speaks out
The sole survivor of the British Air India disaster has revealed how he 'just walked out' of the burning plane as he admitted it is a 'miracle' that he has been left with only minor injuries. British national Viswash Kumar Ramesh, 40, said that he was in India with his brother for the best part of a year and was returning to London, where his family live, on the Gatwick-bound aircraft on Thursday. He was seated in 11A on the doomed flight from Ahmedabad, which is said to be one of the worst in India's aviation history, having claimed the lives of 279 people so far. Among the victims believed to be dead, which includes 53 British nationals, is the 40-year-old's brother Ajay Kumar, 35, who was sat on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J perished in the fireball explosion. Vishwash, who is being treated at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, just a short distance from where the plane crashed into buildings, has spoken of the moment he escaped from the burning plane. While sitting up in his seat, he told DD India, that he was 'feeling better than yesterday' and that the 'treatment is going good'. Still in shock, he admitted he 'can't explain' everything that he witnessed as the plane plummeted to the ground. He managed to escape after his side of the plane fell onto the ground of a floor building, forcing his way out of the plane past a broken door, before being assisted by locals and taken to hospital in an ambulance. 'The emergency door was broken, my seat is broken,' he said. Asked if he escaped the plane by jumping to the ground, he replied: 'I am not jumping. I just walked out innit.' 'It's a miracle,' he said when discussing his survival and injuries. His doctor added: 'He is having minor injuries only. He has some abrasions over his left forearm and swelling over left eyelid and over the eyes. 'Chest and abdomen is clear, no lung fractures present. The patient is vitally stable.' He added Vishwash had not complained of nausea, vomiting or any sort of fever. It is now anticipated to be released in the next 48 hours, his relatives have said. Jigar Chunilal, who has been at his bedside since he was filmed walking away from the crash site dazed and bloodied, said: 'Not only is it a miracle that he survived but it's also a miracle that he had no serious injuries. He's still very shocked that he's still alive and so are we. 'The doctors have told us that he can go home within the next two days and that is incredible, but we are not sure when he will be leaving for the UK. He suffered some minor burns but no fractures, broken bones or any serious internal injuries.' Mr Ramesh's parents, Manibhai and Bava, wife Hiral and two brothers, Sunnykumar and Nayankumar are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad over the weekend to visit him after leaving the UK on Friday night. Mr Chunilal added: 'We don't want to say too much because this is a very difficult time for us all. On one hand we are very happy that Viswashkumar survived but at the same time we are in mourning for Ajay.' He added that as per Hindu custom, the family are keen to carry out Ajay's funeral as quickly as possible and will not return to the UK until this is done. Earlier today, UK investigators with experience in aircraft operations, engineering and recorded data, arrived in the south Asian country in the wake of the tragedy. Terrifying CCTV footage showed the Boeing 787 Dreamliner careen to the ground shortly after take off in the densely populated Meghani area of the city at around 1.40pm local time (8.10am BST). Detailing the moments after the crash, Viswash described seeing several passengers and crew lose their lives as parts of the plane were scattered around the site. Still clutching his boarding pass at the hospital, he called his father in the aftermath of the tragedy. His brother Nyan told Sky News: 'He video called my dad as he crashed and said, 'Oh the plane's crashed. I don't know where my brother is. 'I don't see any other passengers. I don't know how I'm alive, how I exited the plane'.' Devastatingly, injured Viswash had been begging from his hospital bed: 'Find Ajay, you must find Ajay.' His cousin, Ajay Valgi, told the BBC , how Viswash has a wife and 'little boy' at home: adding: 'He only said that he's fine, nothing else. [We are] happy that he's OK, but we're still upset about the other brother.' Previously said of his younger cousin's, Ajay's death, Mr Valgi: 'I'm feeling absolutely upset. He's not just my cousin, he's also one of my best friends as well. 'They were sitting next to each other, but we don't know what happened to [Ajay Kumar]. We're not doing well. We're all upset.' On Thursday, relatives gathered at the family's terraced home in Leicester to comfort the brothers' mother who is said to be too grief-stricken to speak. 'It's a miracle at least one of them survived,' younger brother Nayan said. 'He said his plane had crashed and he couldn't find anyone, we couldn't believe it. There was blood running down his face. The tragedy's death toll has since increased to 279 dead, according to a senior Indian police source, making it one of the deadliest plane disasters of the 21st century. This is a further increase on an earlier figure of 265 victims, which includes those on the plane and ground. Air India said there were 242 people on board the London-bound flight, with only one survivor, with at least 38 people killed on the ground when the plane smashed into residential buildings. The official casualty number will not be finalised until the slow process of DNA identification is completed. 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. Air India said there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian on board the flight, as well as 12 crew members. MailOnline previously revealed the British victims were Akeel Nanawaba, Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sarah, 4, Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, Javed Ali Syed, his wife and two children, Raxa Modha, her grandson Rudra and her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar, and Ajay Kumar Ramesh, the brother of the tragedy's only survivor. Relatives of Harrods ambassador Mariam Ali Syed, 35, her husband Javed - a manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel - have spoken out since the tragedy. The couple's children Zayn, five, and Amani, four, are believed to be the youngest named victims of the crash so far. Mrs Ali Syed's sister-in-law, Yasmine Hassan, 45, broke down while confirming the children's names, and pleaded with officials to offer more support to the families of the 53 British citizens onboard the flight. 'They are so small, they are five and four. And it's just thinking how scared they must have been,' she told the Telegraph . 'We're not angry about the lack of answers [from UK government officials] – we understand that takes time. 'We're angry because no one has reached out to offer support or even ask if we need anything. These are British citizens.' Adam Taju, 72, and his wife Hasina, 70, were flying back to the UK with their son-in-law Altafhusen Patel, 51, when they lost their lives in the tragedy, The four had been spending time with Mr Taju's 96-year-old father in India to celebrate Eid, their son Altaf Taju told MailOnline. 'He's the one they wanted to see because he's 96 and it's very hot in India. No one goes to India this time of year but they said 'We don't know how long he's going to be around, let's go and celebrate Eid.' Altaf added: 'I'm the eldest person in the family now. I'm here with my sisters. I'm flying out with my two sisters. The other one can't make it as she's a cancer patient. Adam was a retired machinist who'd worked making leather coats and Hasina had been a housewife. The couple, who had lived in a terraced property in Ilford since the 1970s, had four children, a boy and three girls. One of their daughters who lives has since flown back to Redbridge to be with family. Adam's son, Altaf Taju, told the Mail the family hoped to be flying out to India by Sunday, so they could conduct the burials next week. Mr Taju, who is from Blackburn, said he'd travelled down to London to support his sister Shamim who was married to Altafhusen Patel. Mr Taju said: 'I'm okay. I'm the eldest son of the family. My uncle rang me to tell me what had happened. 'We've lost three members of my family and my brother in law who's married to my sister. My sister is alone here.' Explaining how burials of his family members will take place in their respective home villages, his mother and father in Sansrod, Gujarat, and his brother-in-law in Bharuch, Mr Taju called for the release of the bodies. 'We need to get the release of the bodies and bring them home and start mourning in the Islamic way, whatever is left of them,' he said. 'I have told them to wait for us, until we get there, because I want to put them down in the grave.' Friend and neighbour Iqbal Hussain, 44, who has known Adam and Hasina since he was a child, described them as a 'smiling' and 'loving family'. 'It's a sad thing. They were happy when they left [to go to India]. They were going on holiday to celebrate Eid,' he said. 'They were part of the Neighbourhood Watch group. We're all devastated. 'Anything they needed we'd help them with. They weren't very IT savvy and I used to help them out,' the IT manager added: 'We grew up with their children. I was friends with Afia, their youngest daughter.' Recalling the moment his local councillor who's from the Gujarat community informed him of the plane crash, as well as Adam and Hasina being on board, Mr Hussain said: ''I thought 'That cannot be true'. 'I called the youngest daughter [Afia]. She was crying. She didn't say much. All she said was 'Say prayers for my parents'. She was hoping they were okay and alive.' Councillor Salim Patel described Adam as 'a wonderful man, a community man', who was 'always out and about supporting communities'. 'He will be very missed,' he said: 'It will take a very long time for this community to accept he's not there. It's a great loss, to lose him as a human being. 'Whatever the community needed he would stand up with the community, whether it was to help campaign against fly-tipping or help people in need during Covid. 'Whenever I needed his support, he would be there. 'He was a kind and humble gentleman. There are no words to describe how we are going to miss him. I've known him for nearly 30 years. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner issued a mayday call moments before it crashed around lunchtime on Thursday after lifting barely 100 metres (330 feet) from the ground. Investigators have also since recovered a black box recorder on Friday from the crash site, with forensic teams still looking for the second. US planemaker Boeing said it was in touch with Air India and stood 'ready to support them' over the incident, which a source close to the case said was the first crash for a 787 Dreamliner. It comes as an aviation expert believes the co-pilot on Air India flight AI171 pulled the plane's wing flaps instead of retracting the landing gear, causing the plane to crash. Commercial airline pilot and YouTuber Captain Steve, who analyzes plane crashes and close calls, gave his theory on the incident which killed 241 people on board . The London -bound 787 Dreamliner began losing height moments after take-off and crashed in a fireball over a residential area in the Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Steve said he suspected there had been an exceptionally simple error in the cockpit when the co-pilot was asked to retract the landing gear, with devastating consequences. He said: 'Here's what I think happened, again folks this is just my opinion. I think the pilot flying said to the co-pilot said 'gear up' at the appropriate time. 'I think the co-pilot grabbed the flap handle and raised the flaps, instead of the gear. If that happened, this explains a lot of why this airplane stopped flying.' Steve said that the flaps being raised would cause the flight to lose airspeed and altitude quickly, something he thinks the pilot would have struggled to control. He explained his theory by saying the 787's composite wings would normally bend during take off as lift forces take it into the air. But the Air India plane appears to show no such bending, amid widespread speculation the flaps which help lift the plane off had accidentally been retracted. It remains unclear what caused Thursday's tragedy, with mechanical failure or pilot error among the possible causes that investigators will now work to identify. Among those believed to have died is Captain Sumeet Sabharwal , the pilot operating the Boeing 787. Mr Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of experience, was named as the pilot of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. First Officer Clive Kunder, from Mumbai and who was co-piloting, had logged 1,100 of flying hours and completed his training at the Florida-based Paris Air Flight School. King Charles III and other members of the royal family wore black armbands and there was a moment of silence during his annual birthday parade on Saturday as the monarch commemorates those who died in this week's Air India plane crash. Charles requested the symbolic moves 'as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy,' Buckingham Palace said.
