Latest news with #AirIndia171
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Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Best of BS Opinion: The erosion nobody noticed, until it finally snapped
There's a moment, familiar to many of us, when something stops working, a fan blade hangs at a tilted angle, a Wifi signal stutters, a houseplant starts yellowing, and we realise we never really took care of it. We didn't break it. We just forgot it. And when that moment scales up, when systems and states neglect maintenance and vigilance, a quiet decay sets in. No mutiny, no sirens. Just a slow, silent coup of incompetence, where power isn't taken, but quietly slips away. Let's dive in. That's what David Fickling observes in the global oil industry, which, after four decades of steady growth, finds its crude core stagnating. The numbers are sobering. While global fossil fuel investments now trail clean energy, US shale rigs are being idled and even Saudi Aramco is redirecting its might to gas. In China and India, demand has already begun to fray. The collapse isn't loud. It's methodical. A drip-drip of underinvestment, climate pivot, and a dawning realisation that the oil age may be dimming not with disruption, but with quiet retreat. That same drift echoes in India's public safety, writes Devangshu Datta. Three recent tragedies, a Dreamliner crash, a Mumbai train collision, and a stampede, might seem disconnected. But zoom out, and a pattern emerges: failing infrastructure, absent accountability, outdated systems. When seven die daily on Mumbai's trains and it causes no outrage, it's not just tragedy, it's institutional indifference solidified into routine. Mihir S Sharma reminds us that even in aviation, where precision is everything, the old ghosts return. In the wake of Air India 171, history casts a long shadow: pilot hierarchy problems, ignored warnings, and a recurring fog of premature conclusions. The Dreamliner crash may be new, but the neglect feels familiar. Shekhar Gupta finds the same quiet slippage in foreign policy, as Washington toys again with 'hyphenation', lumping India and Pakistan together in strategy. It's not a crisis, but a memory of one, and a hint that global diplomacy may be lapsing into old habits. India's muted response, more calibration than outrage, shows maturity, but also the fatigue of having to remind the world, again, that it has moved art, too, a different kind of forgetting plays out. Ranjita Ganesan explores Jafar Panahi's cinematic rebellion in winning the Palme d'Or for It was Just an Accident, a reminder that resistance isn't always loud. Sometimes, it's a quiet, stubborn act of storytelling. The system tried to forget him. He filmed anyway. Stay tuned!
Time of India
7 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
RIP: Places of worship remember the dead
1 2 3 4 Kolkata: People from different faiths came together in Kolkata to express grief and solidarity following the tragic crash of an Air India 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which occurred shortly after take-off on Thursday and claimed 274 lives. Various places of worship across the city organised special prayers, uniting people in remembering the victims and expressing solidarity with the families of the deceased. Emergency services personnel who participated in rescue operations were also acknowledged in public prayers. At the Nakhoda mosque on Zakaria Street, special prayers were offered for the victims and their families after the Friday prayers. The trustees of the mosque also released a condolence message after the prayer, expressing deep sorrow. "We, the citizens of this country, are deeply saddened by the tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad, which has claimed many lives and left families in grief. We stand with the families in this hour of grief. May the departed souls find eternal peace, and may those left behind find love and comfort in the prayers of the community. May God grant strength to those mourning their loved ones and guide the hands of those working tirelessly in rescue and relief operations," read the message signed by Nasser Ebrahim, a trustee of the mosque. The members of the Sikh community, who were observing the Gurpurab of Guru Hargobind Singh Ji on Thursday, also held special prayers. At Gurdwara Behala, an Ardaas (Sikh prayer) seeking peace for the departed souls and unwavering strength for the bereaved families enduring unspeakable loss was held. Special prayers were offered not only for the victims of Flight 171 but also for the broader community affected by this grief. "Guru Hargobind Singh Ji taught us the path of compassion, courage, and collective responsibility. In times of joy and sorrow, the Sangat stands united as one family, extending its prayers and support to those in need. Today, our Ardaas for the departed souls of Flight 171 is a tribute to their memory," said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, general secretary of the gurdwara. Special prayers were held at the Archbishop's chapel on Friday morning to express grief for the deceased. Many churches will also be offering prayers for the deceased and their families after the Mass on Sunday. "Our prayers are with the souls of the deceased. May they find eternal rest. We offer our prayers for the families and loved ones of the victims. May they find strength and solace in this incredibly difficult time," said Father Dominic Gomes, the Vicar General. Members of The Old Mission Church on RN Mukherjee Road will be remembering the victims during the Sunday Mass. "We have already offered our condolences and prayers in our WhatsApp group of the members. On Sunday, we will be offering a prayer again during the Mass," said an office bearer of the church. Samaj Sebi Sangha in south Kolkata will remember the victims during their Khuti Puja. "The loss of so many lives has shocked us. We will be praying for the departed souls during the Khuti Puja on Sunday," said Arijit Maitra, general secretary of the puja committee. Kamalendu Bhadra) 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 .
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
PM visits AI 171 plane crash site, meets injured victims
Gandhinagar: A day after one of the worst air-tragedies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the Air India 171 plane crash site in Ahmedabad. He met the injured at the civil hospital, including the lone survivor of the tragedy, and chaired a meeting of top Union and state govt officials. Modi also met bereaved family members of former chief minister Vijay Rupani during his visit to the city. The PM spent about 20 minutes at the site inspecting where the Air India Dreamliner 787 crashed moments after take-off on Thursday afternoon. Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and state minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi apprised the PM of how the plane crashed into the hostel building and mess of the B J Medical College. The PM was also accompanied by CM Bhupendra Patel, chief secretary Pankaj Joshi, DGP Vikas Sahay and others. Modi met injured victims, including Viswashkumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the plane crash. The PM was seen interacting with Viswash for a while before visiting the C7 ward of civil hospital where 25 injured persons are being treated. About 50 injured persons are being treated at the C7 and C8 wards of the hospital. The PM spoke to doctors and other medical personnel at the hospital. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. Condolences to all the bereaved families. We understand their pain and also know that the void left behind will be felt for years to come. Om Shanti," the PM wrote on his X handle after his visits. Posting pictures of his visit to the crash site and the hospital, the PM said, "The scene of devastation is saddening. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their lives in this unimaginable tragedy." Modi further said, "Met those injured in the aftermath of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, including the lone survivor and assured them that we are with them and their families in this tough time. The entire nation is praying for their speedy recovery. " Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been tasked with the inquiry into the incident. On Friday, he posted on his X handle, "We are extending every possible support to the affected families. A thorough investigation is underway and all efforts are being made to uncover the cause of the incident." He also posted that the flight data recorder of the ill-fated plane has been recovered and this marks an important step forward in the investigation. The PM also convened a high-level meeting in Ahmedabad with Gujarat CM, central and state ministers and officials of the Union and state govts to review the progress of relief work and investigations. The London-bound aircraft with 242 people on board, including former chief minister Vijay Rupani, crashed moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. 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 .
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Business Standard
12 hours ago
- General
- Business Standard
Tragedy and farce: Air India 171 crash calls for facts, not speculation
It is worth noting that it has been five years since the last large-scale civil aviation accident in India, the 2020 crash of Air India Express 1344 from Dubai to Kozhikode Listen to This Article We may not know for some time what led to Air India 171's tragic crash just a few seconds after it took off. Crash investigations are some of the most comprehensive such inquiries carried out, and it is vitally important that we wait for this process rather than speculate. After all, there are some things that we already know: The class of aircraft in question, the Boeing 787 'Dreamliner', has never previously been involved in a fatal incident — unlike, say, the same company's controversial 737-MAX, which has suffered several crashes and been grounded more than once. It has been
The Independent
13 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Young families, the sole survivor's brother and tragic final selfies: The British victims of Air India plane crash
A family of five beamed with joy from their plane seats, in a selfie they sent to their loved ones before takeoff. Just minutes later they were killed along with more than 200 passengers when the doomed Air India flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff. More than 50 Britons were among the 241 people who died when their Boeing 787 Dreamliner near Ahmedabad Airport on Thursday. Only one passenger from the Gatwick-bound flight has survived, with hundreds of families left devastated as footage quickly emerged on social media of the enormous fireball caused by the crash. Details are still emerging by the hour of the different victims, as work continues in India to identify the remains, and inform loved ones of their losses. What do we know about the victims? The grieving husband who has left two daughters A four-year-old girl and her eight-year-old sister have been left orphaned after their father died while travelling to India to scatter their mother's ashes. Arjun Patoliya had travelled to his late wife Bharatiben's village in Gujarat to respect her final wishes to have her ashes scattered in a local river. She had died last week after suffering from cancer, with the couple's children now losing both their parents within a week. The brother of the lone survivor British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh is believed to be the only survivor of the crash, having miraculously walked away apparently with only minor injuries. He was travelling with his Ajay Kumar Ramesh, who is presumed dead along with the hundreds of other passengers on board. 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 said: 'After the crash he spoke to his dad worrying about his brother saying, 'Where's Ajay'?' His other brother, Nayankumar Ramesh, also told ITV News that Ajay was on the flight. 'Even though he's [Vishwash] survived and it's a miracle, we're still waiting to hear about our other brother,' he added. 'I'll see you tomorrow' were the last words he said to me - I was supposed to be picking them both up today from Gatwick." The doctor's family who took a final tragic selfie Dr Prateek Joshi, a radiologist at the Royal Derby Hospital, was on the Air India flight with his family, Derby Hindu Temple said. In a post on Facebook, the temple said the family were 'devotees of our Mandir and supported us through their sincere service and dedication. 'We pray to Lord Shiva to grant eternal peace to the departed souls and to give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense loss.' Smiling for the camera, the family of five sent a selfie to their loved ones after they boarded the plane, with their faces clearly showing their excitement to be on the way to London. His wife, Dr Komi Vyas, had recently given up her job in Udaipur to join Dr Joshi in London, where he had been living for the last few years. Widowed grandmother and her young grandson Among those on the Gatwick-bound flight were Raxa Modha, who is believed to have been flying back to England for a memorial service for her late husband. She and her two-year-old grandson Rudra had boarded the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which crashed just moments after clearing the runway. Tributes have flooded in for the family, who were based in Wellingborough, with one friend telling the BBC that Ms Modha was a 'kind, generous, loving' and a 'real people's person'. Raj Mishra, the mayor of Wellingborough, called for people to come together. "I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends and all those affected by this heartbreaking event," he said. "May their memories be a blessing, and may we come together to support one another in this time of grief." The 'widely loved' family from Gloucester Tributes have also poured in for Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter, Sara, who have been identified as victims by the Gloucester Muslim Community. Sara was a 'ray of sunshine' who 'lit up the classroom', said Abdullah Samad, headteacher of her primary school. He said the married couple were well known for their charity work and generosity. 'They touched lots of people and they will be missed by lots of people,' he told the BBC. 'They helped fundraise for the humanitarian efforts in Gaza and medical care for poor individuals in India. That was part of their service to the community,' he said. Their neighbour, Gentian Cullhaj told The Independent that Sara would come to his house with chocolates and sweets from the parents to share with their own children. Holding back tears while stood in his driveway, Mr Cullhaj said of Akeel: 'I would always see him in the morning, out with his kid. When you got your own children you really feel it, what's happened. We won't ever see them again… he was a good neighbour and an even better friend.' The couple ran an outsourcing services business, Iceberg, with bases in both Gloucester and Ahmedabad. The London couple who posted moments before the flight A British couple who ran a spiritual wellness company are also believed to be among the victims. Jamie Ray Greenlaw-Meek and his husband Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, from London, were returning home on the flight after a 10-day wellness retreat, Jamie Meek's brother said. Their company, the Wellness Foundry, which is in Vauxhall, south London, offers psychic readings, tarot cards and aura readings, and has worked with Netflix, Google and Dior. Its website says Fiongal founded the company in 2018 after experiencing a spiritual awakening following illness. His husband joined the team in 2023 as co-director and head of events, and offered psychic readings and life coaching. In January, Fiongal appeared on ITV's This Morning to talk about the meanings of people's auras. A clip shows him joking and laughing with presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard before performing a reading. On Instagram, the Wellness Foundry described the appearance as their 'biggest gig so far', adding that it was 'very nerve-wracking' but that he was 'honoured to chat about one of his favourite topics to such a big audience'. As they waited to board their flight in Ahmedabad, the couple posted a video from the airport about their 'magical experience' in India. The Harrods employee and her hotelier husband A British family of four – Javed Ali Syed, his wife Mariam, and their young children, Zayn and Amani – were also onboard the Air India flight. On her LinkedIn, Mrs Syed states she has worked for nearly a decade as a brand ambassador at luxury store Harrods, while Mr Syed worked as a hotel manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel. The family were reportedly returning home from a holiday in India.
