Ahmedabad plane crash: Last rites of AI pilot Sabharwal, crew members conducted
Mahadik's last rites were conducted in suburban Goregaon, in Mumbai.
While the mortal remains of Captain Sabharwal were cremated at an electric crematorium in suburban Chakala, Mumbai, Maithili Patil was cremated in Raigad district.
Mumbai, Jun 17 (PTI) Emotional scenes unfolded on Tuesday as the last rites of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, pilot in command of the Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad, senior crew member Aparna Mahadik, and crew member Maithili Patil were conducted in their respective hometowns.
The London-bound Air India flight AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. All but one on board the plane died along with 29 on the ground when the aircraft smashed into a medical complex.
Sabharwal's grief-stricken father bid him a heart-wrenching, tearful farewell before the cremation.
Mortal remains of both Sabharwal and Patil were brought to Mumbai from Ahmedabad earlier in the day, nearly a week after the crash.
The casket carrying the mortal remains of Sabharwal reached the Mumbai airport by a flight and was taken to his residence, located at Jal Vayu Vihar in Powai area, by his family members.
Businessman Niranjan Hiranandani and local MLA Dilip Lande were among those who visited Sabharwal's residence to pay respects to him. The late pilot's elderly father Pushkaraj broke down as he offered an emotional tribute to his son with folded hands.
Mahadik's last rites were conducted at a crematorium in Aarey Colony near the Mumbai suburb of Goregaon where she lived.
Mahadik (42) is survived by her husband Amol Mahadik who works with Air India, and a nine-year-old daughter. Her husband is the son of NCP leader Sunil Tatkare's sister.
The Tatkare family including Maharashtra women and child welfare minister Aditi Tatkare and Sunil Tatkare's daughter were by Amol Mahadik's side as he performed `aarti' of the casket to bid his wife a final goodbye.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Milind Narvekar also paid his tributes. PTI DC MR RSY GK KRK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
22 minutes ago
- Mint
PM Modi meets UK PM Keir Starmer on the sidelines of G7 Summit in Canada – ‘exceptional conversation'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had an 'exceptional conversation' with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada on Tuesday night (local time). The two nations will keep working together to add even more momentum to this wonderful friendship, Modi said after the meeting. "An exceptional conversation with Prime Minister Keir Starmer! India and UK ties are getting stronger, reflected in the ground we've covered in areas like trade and commerce. We will keep working together to add even more momentum to this wonderful friendship," PM Modi posted on X. The meeting between the two leaders comes in the wake of the tragic Air India crash, which claimed British lives, casting a sombre backdrop to the interaction between the two leaders. Both sides are expected to remain in close coordination as investigations continue. All passengers – except one – on board the Air India flight bound for London Gatwick Airport that crashed shortly after take-off from Gujarat's Ahmedabad airport on 12 June afternoon died. There were 242 passengers and crew on board the plane, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. One passenger, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, miraculously survived the crash. India and the UK signed a India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in May 2025, marking a significant step between the two economies amid ongoing global trade volatility and tariff uncertainties. UK is India's 4th largest export destination and India is UK's 11th largest trading partner. The bilateral trade of about USD 60 billion is projected to double by 2030. It is India's 16th FTA, and the UK's most significant bilateral trade deal post-Brexit. The FTA grants zero-duty access for 99% of Indian exports to the UK, including textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, sports goods, toys, gems and jewellery, auto parts, engineering goods, and organic chemicals. Automobiles tariffs cut to 10% under a quota, down from over 100% . It also promotes labour mobility. About 100 additional annual visas for Indian professionals, particularly in IT and healthcare. India and the UK also signed a Double Contribution Convention Agreement (also called a Social Security Agreement) as one of the key aspects of the deal. It will ensure that professionals in either country are not forced to pay national insurance or social security contributions in both countries. Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge to participate in the high-level G7 Summit, where he is scheduled to hold multiple bilateral meetings and discuss pressing global issues. Canadian PM Mark Carney received PM Modi as he arrived at the venue of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. This marks his sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit and his first visit to Canada in a decade. PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Calgary airport, where India's acting high commissioner, Chinmoy Naik, was among those who received him. An exceptional conversation with Prime Minister Keir Starmer! India and UK ties are getting stronger, reflected in the ground we've covered in areas like trade and commerce. The Prime Minister arrived in Canada after concluding his visit to Cyprus. PM Modi's visit to Canada marks a significant moment in bilateral ties following a phase of strained diplomatic relations. He headed to Croatia from Canada for the third and final leg of his five-day foreign tour.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
No tie-up with BJP allies, says Sharad Pawar amid reunion buzz
Amid renewed speculation over a possible patch-up with the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Sharad Pawar on Tuesday dismissed any such move, warning against aligning with those he described as indulging in 'opportunistic politics' by joining hands with the BJP. Speaking at a gathering of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) workers in Pimpri-Chinchwad, the octogenarian leader issued a clear but indirect rebuke to his own partymen as well as those from his nephew Ajit Pawar-led party. Without naming him, Pawar senior said those who abandoned the party to share power with the BJP had moved away from the ideological foundation laid by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Jyotirao Phule, and BR Ambedkar. 'There's talk of taking everyone along. But who is everyone?' Pawar asked. 'I am willing to work with those who uphold the values of Gandhi, Nehru, Phule, and Ambedkar. But aligning with the BJP for the sake of power is not in line with that ideology.' The remarks come at a time when rumours of a reunion between the two NCP factions have gained momentum, following several public appearances and meetings between the uncle-nephew duo. However, Sharad Pawar's pointed comments have made it clear that reconciliation was not on the cards, at least for now, when local body polls in 29 Municipal Corporations and several Councils are just a few months away. When asked for his reaction to Pawar's statement, Ajit Pawar offered a non-committal response, saying only, 'Everyone has the right to express their opinion.' Last week, speaking at the party's 26th Foundation Day event in Pune, Ajit Pawar had avoided giving a definitive answer on the merger issue, saying such decisions are taken by top leaders, not by party workers or junior leaders. State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare, however, was more categorical at that time. 'There is no such proposal,' he had said when asked about the possibility of the two factions coming together again. In Tuesday's programme, Sharad Pawar also urged his supporters not to be disheartened by leaders who had defected from the party. 'People have come and gone many times in my political journey. The focus now must be on preparing for upcoming local body elections,' he said, reaffirming his faith in the political judgement of the electorate. 'Democracy survives in this country not because of leaders, but because of the wisdom of ordinary citizens.' The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, split in July 2023 after Ajit Pawar and a group of MLAs joined the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition government in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister, and eight of his loyalists were inducted as ministers. In a significant blow to Sharad Pawar's camp, the Election Commission later ruled in favour of Ajit Pawar, recognising his faction as the legitimate NCP and granting it the party's original 'clock' symbol. In the months that followed, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) saw mixed fortunes, performing relatively well in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls but facing challenges in the subsequent state assembly elections. The latest comments signal a renewed push by the senior Pawar to consolidate his base ahead of civic and state-level contests.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Uncertainty looms over Kuki air hostess's funeral
New Delhi The shadow of the ethnic conflict that has ravaged Manipur for over two years and effectively split the state into two has cast a shadow over the more recent tragedy, the crash of Flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the passengers and crew, including two members of the cabin crew from Manipur. One of the dead cabin crew, Nganthoi K Sharma, was a Meitei, and the other, Lamnunthiem Singson, was a Kuki-Zo. And even as authorities in Ahmedabad are working to identify and return the bodies of the two women, back in Manipur, there are hectic parleys underway between the local administration, the police, and leaders of the Meitei and Kuki bodies. Since May 2023, the state has been roiled by an ethnic conflict that has resulted in the death of 260 people, and displaced an estimated 50,000 people, the removal of the state's chief minister, and the imposition of President's Rule. It has also seen Kuki-Zos leave Imphal and its surrounding areas and retreat to the hills, and Meiteis do the reverse. These enclaves are protected by local militia with central security forces only serving as a buffer. So, the discussion keeping everyone in Manipur busy now is where Singson's body will land. That's because Kuki-Zos do not enter Imphal (for fear of death). To be sure, top police officers and government authorities have spoken to her family and promised a security convoy from Imphal to Kangpokpi,where they are based, if they wish to receive the body at the Imphal airport. Singson's family, used to live in Imphal's New Lambulane area, but fled to the hill district of Kangpopki after the conflict broke out. The Manipur government said in a press statement issued on Monday night that it is in touch with Air India and the Tata group, and have assured them that it is prepared to receive both bodies at the Imphal airport. 'The final decision regarding mode of reception, ceremonies and other arrangements is left to the bereaved families. The state is committed to provide all necessary support as per their wishes,' it added. The statement also quoted Manipur chief secretary PK Singh, who said, 'Necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that their names are treated with the highest dignity and respect, and subsequently transported safely to their respective homes.' Till late Tuesday evening, Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) members said the body is yet to be handed to them by the authorities of Ahmedabad. Senior police officers, including the Manipur police chief Rajiv Singh, on Monday spoke to the family over phone, offering them adequate security to transport the body by road from Imphal airport, people aware of the matter said. 'The Kangpokpi superintendent of police met the family and assured them of all help if they are confident in letting their child's body come via Imphal. They may also be worried about a backlash from their own community if at all they go to Imphal to collect the body.,' said a senior Manipur police officer who asked not to be named. But it isn't clear if that will happen. K Shongreng, general secretary of Kuki Students Organisation, Kangpokpi unit, which is helping the family said, 'Going to Imphal is not safe for Kuki-Zo people. We all know what has happened to our people there in the last two years. While KSO is helping the family in every way possible, it is up to the family on how they wish to bring the body of their loved one home.' KSO members said one option is for Singson's body to be flown to Dimapur airport in Nagaland and then brought to Kangpokpi by road, as there are no Meitei areas in between. The airport in Mizoram , Aizawl, is used by Kuki people from another hill district, Churachandpur, but travelling from there to Kangpokpi will require passing through Imphal. Still, amidst all of this, there is a ray of hope -- and a glimpse of humanity. One of Imphal's most influential Meitei umbrella groups, COCOMI on Monday urged all sections of society to be united and ensure a dignified return of the bodies in Manipur. Khuraijam Athouba, convener of the COCOMI, said, 'We have appealed to all sections of society, locals clubs, groups and bodies to extend full cooperation. The entire state of Manipur is united in mourning their untimely loss. We urge the state government to make all necessary logistical arrangements for the smooth transfer of the bodies. If willing, the families may come forward to receive their daughters at the airport without hesitation. Let us honour their return and pray for their souls to return in peace.' The police officer cited above added that government and police officers have spoken to Meitei groups and suggested that allowing Singson's body to travel from Imphal to Kangpokpi would be a 'message of peace'. He said many of the groups have responded 'positively'. Singson's family said it will decide on what to do when authorities in Ahmedabad are ready to send the bodies. 'She lost her father long ago and lived with her mother and siblings in Imphal. They had to leave their house in Imphal because of the clashes. Their house was later looted. Her mother stays with us in Kangpokpi now. We are awaiting confirmation from authorities in Ahmedabad . We will issue a statement once we receive a word from Ahmedabad,' said Singson's uncle, Hahao Haipi. (With inputs from Sobhapati Samom)
