Latest news with #ArjunPatoliya
New York Post
4 hours ago
- General
- New York Post
Young sisters orphaned as father dies in Air India crash while flying home after spreading mother's ashes
Two young sisters in London have been tragically orphaned after their father was killed in the deadly Ahmedabad plane crash — just days after he traveled to India to lay their cancer-stricken mother to rest. Arjun Patoliya, 37, was one of at least 270 killed in the horrific crash, one of India's worst aviation disasters. Patoliya was flying back to the UK Thursday to reunite with his grieving daughters, ages 4 and 8, after fulfilling his late wife Bharatiben's dying wish: to have her ashes scattered in a local river in their native Gujarat, the Daily Mail reported. Advertisement But disaster struck when his India Air flight AI-171, bound for Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff. The girls are now mourning the loss of both their parents within just a couple of weeks. 6 The couple's four- and eight-year-old daughters are now orphaned, and mourning the loss of both their parents within just a couple of weeks. GoFundMe Officials on Saturday revealed that the pilot had issued a chilling distress call seconds before the 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner began free-falling from 650 in the air. Advertisement 'Mayday, mayday,' Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal said in his final radio communications with air traffic control, less than a minute after the flight took off from Ahmedabad Airport at 1:39 p.m. It hit the ground in Meghani Nagar — just over a mile from the airport — and struck a medical college hostel in Gujarat State. 6 Relatives comfort parents of Arjun Patoliya, 37, who died when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India. REUTERS 6 The crash killed 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground, according to investigators. RAJAT GUPTA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Advertisement 6 A view shows the rear of an Air India plane following its crash, in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. via REUTERS The crash killed 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground, according to officials, who said recovery teams found at least 25 more bodies in the debris on Friday. Only one man, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, survived the horrifying ordeal. All of the bodies have been taken to the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad – where the survivor also remains in treatment for his injuries, Dr. Dhaval Gameti told the Associated Press. Advertisement Read more on the Air India plane crash 'He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,' Gameti told the outlet Saturday. Relatives of the crash victims have shown up in full force, donating hundreds of DNA samples for the hospital to use to help identify their loved ones. Most bodies found so far were charred or mutilated, making them unrecognizable. On Friday, investigators recovered the plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, from a rooftop near the crash site. 6 Caskets to carry the remains of some of the victims of Thursday's Air India plane crash are brought in a vehicle to a hospital in Ahmedabad, India, Saturday, June 14. AP 6 Firefighters work to put out a fire at the site where an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India. REUTERS Paul Fromme, a member of the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said the device is expected to reveal information about the plane's engine and control settings. Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti said investigators should be able to answer questions about what caused the crash as soon as next week, as long as the black box is intact.
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
Air India plane crash orphans sisters after father's trip to scatter wife's ashes
Mayor of Harrow Anjana Patel lighting a candle during a multi-faith vigil in London for the victims of the Air India crash, on June 14. PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON - Two young British girls were left orphaned by the Air India plane crash, after their father travelled to the south Asian country to scatter his wife's ashes. Mr Arjun Patoliya was travelling home to his daughters, aged four and eight, after scattering the ashes of his wife Bharti, who had died just weeks earlier, when the plane crashed on June 12. 'The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans,' said Ms Anjana Patel, the mayor of London's Harrow borough, at a multi-faith vigil for those killed in the June 12 plane crash. At least 279 people died – including passengers, crew members and people on the ground – when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London's Gatwick Airport crashed in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, shortly after take-off. The victims included 52 Britons, 20 of whom are thought to have previously worshipped at Harrow's Siddhashram Shakti Centre, where the vigil was held. 'I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us,' Ms Patel said. 'We don't have any words to describe how the families and friends must be feeling, so what we can do is pray for them,' she added. British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, is believed to be the only person to have survived the crash. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
South Wales Guardian
6 hours ago
- General
- South Wales Guardian
Community visibly emotional during candlelit vigil for Air India crash victims
Faith leaders from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities led the service on Saturday at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, where 20 of the victims are thought to have previously worshipped. One of the most emotional moments of the vigil came when Harrow Mayor, Councillor Anjana Patel, shared that two young girls had lost their father in the crash, just weeks after their mother died from cancer. Their father, Arjun Patoliya, had flown to Gujarat to scatter his wife Bharti's ashes following her death. He was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, when the plane went down. 'The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer,' Cllr Patel said, as the crowd audibly gasped. 'The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans. 'I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us.' She added: 'Caring is the most that we can do at this hour. 'We don't have any words to describe how the families and friends must be feeling, so what we can do is pray for them.' She also revealed how her sister-in-law's cousin had been killed in the crash. Local councillors, a local MP and residents packed into the temple for the ceremony, which included emotional tributes, candle lighting, and a message of condolence from the King. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, said it was believed to be the highest number of British deaths ever recorded in a plane crash, with 53 UK nationals on board. 'When someone dies in illness or old age, we celebrate their lives,' he said. 'But when an air crash happens – completely unpredictable – people are taken away from us immediately, just like that.' 'We think of all those families sitting by the telephone, wondering if their loved ones were actually on the plane.' He said the Gujarati community in the UK was deeply affected, with victims having links to Harrow, Leicester, Birmingham and beyond. 'The difficulty the authorities have already got is: who are they visiting? Which family members were they coming to see in the UK?' he said. Councillor Hitesh Karia, who represents Pinner South ward and is a member of the temple's congregation, also shared the impact of the tragedy. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: 'It's nice that the local community can come together – the local support means a lot. 'Twenty devotees that come here have sadly lost their lives.' 'It shows there is a solidarity, and despite the high amount of diversity, we can come together when appropriate.' The vigil was held at the temple led by Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who previously told PA he knew 20 of the victims personally. Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit by representatives of all four faiths. 'The only feeling left is sadness – we can't do any more,' Mr Guruji said.
North Wales Chronicle
6 hours ago
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Community visibly emotional during candlelit vigil for Air India crash victims
Faith leaders from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities led the service on Saturday at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, where 20 of the victims are thought to have previously worshipped. One of the most emotional moments of the vigil came when Harrow Mayor, Councillor Anjana Patel, shared that two young girls had lost their father in the crash, just weeks after their mother died from cancer. Their father, Arjun Patoliya, had flown to Gujarat to scatter his wife Bharti's ashes following her death. He was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, when the plane went down. 'The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer,' Cllr Patel said, as the crowd audibly gasped. 'The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans. 'I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us.' She added: 'Caring is the most that we can do at this hour. 'We don't have any words to describe how the families and friends must be feeling, so what we can do is pray for them.' She also revealed how her sister-in-law's cousin had been killed in the crash. Local councillors, a local MP and residents packed into the temple for the ceremony, which included emotional tributes, candle lighting, and a message of condolence from the King. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, said it was believed to be the highest number of British deaths ever recorded in a plane crash, with 53 UK nationals on board. 'When someone dies in illness or old age, we celebrate their lives,' he said. 'But when an air crash happens – completely unpredictable – people are taken away from us immediately, just like that.' 'We think of all those families sitting by the telephone, wondering if their loved ones were actually on the plane.' He said the Gujarati community in the UK was deeply affected, with victims having links to Harrow, Leicester, Birmingham and beyond. 'The difficulty the authorities have already got is: who are they visiting? Which family members were they coming to see in the UK?' he said. Councillor Hitesh Karia, who represents Pinner South ward and is a member of the temple's congregation, also shared the impact of the tragedy. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: 'It's nice that the local community can come together – the local support means a lot. 'Twenty devotees that come here have sadly lost their lives.' 'It shows there is a solidarity, and despite the high amount of diversity, we can come together when appropriate.' The vigil was held at the temple led by Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who previously told PA he knew 20 of the victims personally. Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit by representatives of all four faiths. 'The only feeling left is sadness – we can't do any more,' Mr Guruji said.
Powys County Times
7 hours ago
- General
- Powys County Times
Community visibly emotional during candlelit vigil for Air India crash victims
People attending a vigil in London to remember victims of the Air India plane crash became visibly emotional after learning that two young girls had been orphaned by the disaster. Faith leaders from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities led the service on Saturday at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, where 20 of the victims are thought to have previously worshipped. One of the most emotional moments of the vigil came when Harrow Mayor, Councillor Anjana Patel, shared that two young girls had lost their father in the crash, just weeks after their mother died from cancer. Their father, Arjun Patoliya, had flown to Gujarat to scatter his wife Bharti's ashes following her death. He was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, when the plane went down. 'The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer,' Cllr Patel said, as the crowd audibly gasped. 'The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans. 'I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us.' She added: 'Caring is the most that we can do at this hour. 'We don't have any words to describe how the families and friends must be feeling, so what we can do is pray for them.' She also revealed how her sister-in-law's cousin had been killed in the crash. Local councillors, a local MP and residents packed into the temple for the ceremony, which included emotional tributes, candle lighting, and a message of condolence from the King. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, said it was believed to be the highest number of British deaths ever recorded in a plane crash, with 53 UK nationals on board. 'When someone dies in illness or old age, we celebrate their lives,' he said. 'But when an air crash happens – completely unpredictable – people are taken away from us immediately, just like that.' 'We think of all those families sitting by the telephone, wondering if their loved ones were actually on the plane.' He said the Gujarati community in the UK was deeply affected, with victims having links to Harrow, Leicester, Birmingham and beyond. 'The difficulty the authorities have already got is: who are they visiting? Which family members were they coming to see in the UK?' he said. Councillor Hitesh Karia, who represents Pinner South ward and is a member of the temple's congregation, also shared the impact of the tragedy. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: 'It's nice that the local community can come together – the local support means a lot. 'Twenty devotees that come here have sadly lost their lives.' 'It shows there is a solidarity, and despite the high amount of diversity, we can come together when appropriate.' The vigil was held at the temple led by Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who previously told PA he knew 20 of the victims personally. Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit by representatives of all four faiths.
