Air India victim, 4, mourned as her friend 'keeps asking when she'll come home'
Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hanaa Vorajee and daughter Sara were tragically killed onboard the Air India flight 171 - a close friend of the family has revealed that little Sara was just about to turn five
A close friend of the tragic Nanabawa family has revealed how they were looking forward to their little girl's fifth birthday later this month. Recruitment consultant Akeel Nanabawa, 35, his wife Hanaa Vorajee, 31, and four-year-old daughter Sara perished on Air India flight 171 which was bound for London's Gatwick airport but crashed shortly after taking off in Ahmedabad, India.
Next door neighbour and family friend Safeer Shah, 47, told The Mirror: 'I have known the family for seven years and the little girl since she was just a little baby. She would play with my own son and we were always in and out of each other's houses. She was five later this month and they were all looking forward to it.
'They were such a wonderful family, just good people, we could not sleep last night knowing they were not coming home. My son cannot understand it, he keeps asking me when she will come home and all I can say is that she is with God now.
"Then after an hour or so he said 'daddy I am so sad'. I cannot describe in words as a family how sad we are that this has happened.'
Mr Shah revealed the family had just enjoyed a trip to Indonesia and Malaysia before surprising Akeel's dad with a visit for Eid. And he said Akeel's mum had told him she would make his favourite food for when they got back on Thursday night.
He added: 'This is just unbelievable, we keep thinking that when we go out they will be there, we cannot believe they are never coming back. My mum used to go to their house and they would always be cooking for her. That is the type of people they were, they were so kind and generous. His wife could make any dish you could imagine. She was the greatest cook. This should be a happy time, they should be home now.'
A lone Palestinian flag waved from the window of their neat Edwardian house in Gloucester today (Fri) and flowers from locals shocked at their passing had begun being left outside. Earlier the grieving family released a statement saying: 'We are heartbroken as we await further information regarding our beloved family members.
'The news of this tragic incident has left us devastated, and we are still coming to terms with the enormity of what has happened.' Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee and Sara Nanabawa were among 53 Britons killed in the tragedy.
Abdullah Samad, imam at the Masjid E Umar mosque and head teacher of Sara's primary school, who was speaking on behalf of the family, said the whole community has been left shaken by the tragedy. "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,' Mr Samad added.
'She was a ray of sunshine in her school, and they were a pillar of strength in our lives.' Mr Samad continued: 'Their sense of justice and service extended far beyond Gloucester. Together, they were committed advocates for humanitarian causes, they gave their time and energy to awareness campaigns and fundraising efforts, always guided by a strong sense of responsibility to help others.'
They have recently been fundraising for Palestinian charities which have been supporting those in need of urgent medical care after Gaza's medical system has been devastated in the conflict with Israel. Mr Samad added that the family regularly volunteered at the local Islamic school and for various local projects.
'Hannaa was also a Director at Peace Inclusion, a grassroots organisation that works to build bridges between communities and promote understanding of Islam through education, dialogue, and shared humanity,' he said.
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