Latest news with #AirIndiaTragedy
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Sisters made 'surprise trip from London to visit grandmother for her birthday' before dying in Air India crash
Two sisters who made a surprise trip from London to visit their grandmother for her birthday are among the victims of the Air India tragedy. Dhir and Heer Baxi, both in their 20s, travelled from the UK capital to Ahmedabad for the visit and were returning to Gatwick when their plane crashed just 60 seconds after takeoff. Their heartbroken loved ones told today how they had lost 'everyone' after the 'young talents' were killed in the disaster. Dhir was a designer for a degree in fashion design while Heer worked as a project leader in the investment and renewable energy sector. She had previously worked in Singapore, where the sisters are believed to have spent their childhood. The Air India plane carrying 242 passengers crashed just moments after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner careened back down to earth in the densely populated Meghani area of the city just minutes after leaving the runway around 1.40pm local time (8.10am BST). Terrifying CCTV footage shows the plane appear to lose control before it starts rapidly descending with a high nose angle and landing gear deployed. It plunges into the ground and explodes in a huge fireball, as a massive plume of black smoke is seen billowing out from crash site. Aviation experts say that the aircraft may have suddenly lost power 'at the most critical phase of flight' after takeoff. The plane momentarily disappeared from view behind trees and buildings before a massive fireball erupted on the horizon in this horrifying clip Today, the Baxis elder brother, Ishan, told The Telegraph: 'I can't express what my complete family is going through – shell shocked, not coming to terms is what I can say right now 'Both had a natural aura of helping and always cared about family values. They both had aspirations to be successful enough to roam around the world, tension-free. Along with their parents, they both had a proclivity towards modernisation without changing traditional values. 'Both my sisters know what is right and what is wrong, thus whatever work they carried out, in academics or fashion, they always got success with no conflicts amongst peers or seniors.' Last night, a comment was added to Heer's last Instagram post from November 2024 that said: 'RIP young talent.' Harrods brand ambassador Mariam Ali Syed, 35, her husband Javed - a manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel - and their children, Zayn, five, and Amani, four, have also been named as passengers on the stricken flight. Zayn and Amani 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. All but one person aboard Air India Flight 171 are feared to have died in the tragedy. Also among them were Akeel Nanawaba, Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sarah, 4, Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, Raxa Modha, her grandson Rudra and her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar and Ajaykumar Ramesh, the brother of the tragedy's only survivor. An 'angel' NHS nurse was also named today as one of the passengers killed in the tragedy. Renjitha Gopakumaran was returning to the UK after a holiday to see family in her home country when the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 crashed. The nurse and mother was working at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Hants, and is thought to have been in the UK for a year. Her colleagues at the NHS hospital today said she was a 'beautiful lady' who showed her patients and co-workers 'so much love and care'. Ms Gopakumaran, said to be in her 40s, 'had the biggest heart and brightest smile', one colleague said. Others said it was 'tragic' to hear of her passing. Ms Gopakumaran has two children in India and she had been in the UK completing her degree as part of a five The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in 11A, is also British and told the Hindustan Times he had lived in London for 20 years. Vishwash's brother Ajaykumar accompanied him on the flight and was sat on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J, but he sadly perished in the fireball explosion. Akeel Nanawaba, 36, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, 30, and their daughter Sarah, four, were flying home from a five-day family celebration when the Dreamliner crashed. The successful young couple ran a global recruitment agency with offices in Ahmedabad and Gloucester. Their shocked business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori told MailOnline: 'I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people.' Mr Nagori said he was too upset to find the words to describe their daughter Sarah who had spent time with her grandfather during the brief visit. He said: 'They were here to celebrate a family festival and to spend some time with Akeel's father. 'Akeel was a really good man, I'm in shock, we were all having dinner together the night before.' Mr Nagori was with hundreds of other relatives of crash victims waiting for updates at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. He founded recruitment company Iceberg Outsourcing Services with Mr Nanbawa, who was the managing director. Hannaa, a trained midwife, was head of finance with a sister company called Rec2go Ltd, also based in Gloucester. Recently widowed Raxa Modha, 55, her grandson two-year-old Rudra, and her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar are all believed to have been onboard the ill-fated airliner. Mrs Modha had been in India for some time fulfilling the dying wish of her ill husband Kishor who had wanted to live out his last days in his homeland. Following his recent passing, the mother-of-three was returning with her family to their home in Northamptonshire when disaster struck. In a twist of fate, Kishan Modha – the toddler's father and Raxa's son – had also been in India but was not on the flight as he was due to catch another tomorrow. Speaking to MailOnline, a family friend said: 'It's incredibly sad, the whole family is already grieving Kishor's death. 'Kishan fortunately was getting on another flight, but we don't know what has happened to the others.' Neighbours at the family's detached home in Wellingborough said Mrs Modha is a 'lovely lady'. They said she had been in India for an extended period to support her husband who was battling an illness. The respected businessman, who launched a successful catering business after settling in the UK in 1989, died on April 26. The family were due to hold a service in his memory later this month. In a memorial for him, the family said he was a 'cherished husband' to Raxa and 'proud grandfather to Rudra, who brought him immense joy'. The mayor for Wellingborough, Raj Mishra offered his condolences to the family on a post on Facebook adding it was devastating for the local community. 'I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event,' he added. Police said they had found a lone survivor who had been sitting in seat 11A when Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff in India British celebrity wellness guru Jamie Meek and his husband are also believed to have perished after they posted a haunting video of themselves at the airport waiting to board the Air India flight. Mr Meek, 45, and husband Fiongal Greenlaw, 39, who live in London, run a wellness and healthy lifestyle company called the Wellness Foundry, and had been in India on holiday. In a chilling final social media video posted from Ahmedabad airport as they waited to board their doomed flight the couple were dressed in flowery shirts looking happy at the end of their break. In the clip, Fiongal says: 'We are at the airport just boarding. Goodbye India. Ten-hour flight back to England. What was your biggest takeaway Jamie? Jamie replies: 'I don't know,' with his partner laughing and responding: 'Thanks for your contribution.' Fiongal than jokes that his biggest takeaway was 'don't lose your patience with your partner' to which Jamie responds with a smile: 'You snapped at me at the airport for having chai.' As other passengers mill in the background, Fiongal laughs at the camera and reveals that he is going back to Britain 'happily, happily calm.' Mr Meek's brother, Nick Meek, told MailOnline: 'We were expecting him home tonight. He should have landed at 6.30pm and then driven up for about 11pm to get his dog who is staying with our Mum. 'She is not in a good way. It is all very raw for her at the moment. It's a lot to take in and we only heard this news a couple of hours ago. 'Jamie and his husband Fin had been out there for 10 days as a couple to do a wellness retreat. 'They both worked in holistics and had their own business.' The caretaker from Birmingham said it was not the first time his brother had been to India but it was the first time they had gone as a couple. He said that his brother and Fin had married in 2022 and lived in Ramsgate, Kent. In other videos posted by the couple, they showed the stunning hotel they were staying in while in Ahmedabad having completed a seven-hour car journey. The company specialises in tarot and psychic readings, reiki and other alternative spiritual therapies. British father Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was filmed walking out from the rubble after some how miraculously surviving the catastrophic crash. Fiongal lies on a large bed as he speaks to the camera, showing off a giant swing in their room and describes the hotel as 'beautiful. He beams: 'Feeling very, very happy.' The couple captured the happy time they had in India in a series of social media posts. This included getting henna tattoos, shopping for fine fabrics and other gifts and driving through chaotic traffic in a tuk-tuk. They arrived in Ahmedabad just a day before flying back with Fiongal posting in a video: 'So, it's our last night in India and we've had a magical experience. Some mind-blowing things have happened. 'We are going to put all this together and create a vlog. It's my first ever vlog about the whole trip and we want to share it.' Jamie revealed what a memorable trip they had both had: 'We have been on quite a journey and then spending our last night here in this beautiful hotel, it's really been great way to round off the trip.' According to its website, The Wellness Foundry was founded by Fiongal in 2018 after he had a 'spiritual awakening' following a mysterious illness. The website adds: 'Seeking healing beyond conventional methods, Fiongal delved into alternative practices that resonated deeply within his soul.' Speaking to local media from the safety of a hospital bed, the passenger who was in seat 11A said: 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.' 'When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. 'There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.' Astonishing footage showed the passenger walking away from the scene with some visible injuries. Vishwash, who was returning home to London after visiting family, sustained injuries to his chest, eyes and feet, he told the Hindustan Times. The regional police chief said 'some locals would have also died', given that the plane smashed down into offices and accommodation for doctors close to a hospital. So far, rescue teams supported by the military have recovered 204 bodies, with casualties from the plane and the area surrounding the crash. The passengers included 159 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian. Eleven of those on board were children, including two newborns. A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: 'Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic plane crash in India – this is an unfolding situation, and it will undoubtedly be causing a huge amount of worry and concern. 'FCDO staff are working urgently with local authorities in India and the UK to ensure families and friends are supported in the coming days, whether in the UK or in India.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Prince William's polo pal dies ‘after swallowing bee' during match as tributes flood in
PRINCE William's polo friend has died after reportedly swallowing a bee during a match triggering a fatal heart attack, it is claimed. Indian-born billionaire Sunjay Kapur, 53, collapsed during the match in England yesterday - hours after he'd paid tribute online to the victims of the Air India tragedy. Sources told Indian media the bee stung Kapur in his mouth before he suffered anaphylactic shock that caused his heart to stop. Medical experts say internal stings can prove deadly, particularly if a person has an undiagnosed allergy. Kapur's exact cause of death is still being investigated. A well-known figure on the polo circuit in the UK and India, the late entrepreneur rubbed shoulders with the royals, including the Prince of Wales. 2
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Indian conspiracy theorists blame Pakistan for Boeing 787 Dreamliner tragedy as investigators probe cause of fatal crash
Indian conspiracy theorists are today making baseless claims that Pakistan is to blame for the Air India tragedy. The Gatwick-bound 787 Dreamliner jet was engulfed in a ball of flames in the Meghani area of the city just minutes after leaving the runway. There were 242 passengers on board the plane. Air India said there were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. Eleven of those on board were children, including two newborns. Two pilots and 10 cabin crew were also aboard. A British father sitting in seat 11A miraculously survived the fireball crash. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, spoke from the safety of a hospital bed after escaping from the fallen Flight 171 this morning. The passenger, who was in seat 11A when the plane came down in a residential area, recalled: 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.' The cause of the crash is not yet known, but that hasn't stopped conspiracists making baseless claims on social media, with sabotage among the hypotheses being thrown about on X. Pakistani Foreign Minister and deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said today he was 'saddened' by the deadly plane crash, writing on X: 'Condolences over the loss of precious lives in this tragic incident. Our sympathies are with the families of the victims in this hour of grief.' So far, rescue teams supported by the military have recovered 204 bodies, with casualties from the plane and the area surrounding the crash. Air India's Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat at around 1.40pm local time, officials said. Tata Sons, which owns Air India, will offer around £86,000 to the families of each person who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash, the company said. Aviation expert Sanjay Lazar noted that the Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was only 11 years old, so was unlikely to have underlying technical issues. The plane was under the command of captain Summeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of experience. It is the latest in a tragic spate of incidents involving crisis-hit Boeing and its planes. Just six days ago the plane maker reached a deal with the US Department of Justice to avoid prosecution over crashes involving a 737 Max plane that killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Last December a Boeing jet skidded off a runway in South Korea, crashing into a concrete wall and causing the plane to burst into flames. All but two of the 181 people aboard the Boeing 737-800 were killed - the youngest victim being a three-year-old boy. Today's Air India flight reportedly reached an altitude of just 625 feet before it began to descend, according to flight tracking service Flightradar 24, which declared the plane's transponder signal dropped just seconds after it left the runway. 'We received the last signal from the aircraft at 08:08:51 UTC, just seconds after take off,' it said. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the plane sent a mayday call moments before the crash. Air India's Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran shared a heartfelt statement that read: 'With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. The plane momentarily disappeared from view behind trees and buildings before a massive fireball erupted on the horizon in this horrifying clip 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. 'We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.' Gatwick Airport subsequently confirmed the flight that was due to land at 6.25pm had crashed on departure. According to data logs recorded at 30-second intervals showed the plane remained on the ground or was taxiing slowly for over four minutes after it first registered on public trackers. The plane took off and reached 625ft, but no further gains in altitude were recorded before the crash. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the plane sent a mayday call moments before the tragedy unfolded. Experts say the plane appeared to be exhibiting signs of engine failure - with a former pilot suggesting that it may have suffered multiple bird strikes as it took off. Former pilot Saurabh Bhatnagar told NDTV: 'From the footage I have seen, it looks like prima facie the case of multiple bird hits, wherein both engines have lost power. 'The takeoff was perfect and just I believe short of taking the gear up the aircraft started descending, which only happens if the engine loses power or the aircraft stops delivering the lift.' 'These are unconfirmed reports coming from the pilot fraternity,' he added. Mr Bhatnagar also observed that the jet appeared to come down in a 'controlled' fashion. 'Immediately after takeoff the landing gear was still up - so that means thereafter the aircraft coming down in a sort of controlled fashion. It was a distress situation.' Aviation security expert Julian Bray told MailOnline that he was concerned as the Dreamliner was, in his view, 'state-of-the-art'. He said: 'It's a Boeing Dreamliner that has gone down - not certain whether they've managed to get anybody off the plane. 'If it has indeed crash-landed and they can deploy the chutes out then they should be able to get people off in 90 seconds. 'I am aware there are fire appliances in attendance - this is a major incident. 'It is very disappointing that it is a Dreamliner as it is a state-of-the-art Boeing. 'We cannot rule out security issues. But this is all speculation on my part.' He added to Sky News: 'This is very, very worrying as it happened on departure. We don't know what's happened so if it happened on departure... obviously a major incident plan has been put in place. 'The Dreamliner is Boeing's 'star product', you might say, and it does have several backup systems and safety systems. We have to look at security issues and decide whether that is a factor here. 'We can only hope the passengers and crew on-board are safe. 'What I am worried about is if an incident has happened while it was taking off we have to look at the security side of things and work out where there was some evil intent behind this. 'Basically, the aircraft these days sort of fly themselves so there shouldn't have been a problem in taking off, especially with a Dreamliner. It has a good track record. We really need more detail. 'What I would to say to people gathering at Gatwick... you will find that on the operator's website there will be instructions, there will be an emergency number and they will confirm if the passenger is on board if you are a family member and they will take you through it and process it that way. 'We don't know whether anybody has managed to get away from this. I really hope so.'
