Latest news with #Jignesh
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
This Gujarat Couple Cancelled June 6 London Plan, Booked Doomed Air India Flight
Last Updated: The Patel couple, belonging to Gujarat's NRI city Anand, was not originally scheduled to travel on June 12. The devastating Air India flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad earlier this week, which claimed over 260 lives, has thrown up various untold and heartbreaking stories. Among the deceased, one such family was that of Monali Patel and her husband, Sunny Patel, who boarded the doomed flight and lost their lives. The Patel couple, belonging to Gujarat's NRI city Anand, was not originally scheduled to travel on June 12. They had earlier booked their flight for June 6, due to some personal reasons, the couple delayed their journey and booked the ill-fated plane of June 12. According to a report by NDTV, 33 people from Anand died in the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash. Speaking with the news outlet, a close relative of the couple, Jignesh Patel, who lives in Gana village, 3 km away from Anand, said that Monali was undergoing medical treatment and Sunny had taken leave from his work in London in order to take care of his wife. 'They had been here for the last two months. Monali was undergoing medical treatment. Sunny had taken time off from his business in London to be with her," Jignesh said. Jignesh mentioned how Monali, whom he considered his own real sister, shared their updates while the couple was going through the check-in procedures. Additionally, Monali also said 'goodbye' to Jignesh and his wife, without knowing it was their final adieu. According to Jignesh, Monali completed her check-in procedures at the Ahmedabad airport by 11 am. She kept in touch with Jignesh and his wife until moments before boarding. 'She sent me a message at 1:20 pm. She told my wife that everything was cleared, all was well, and she gave us her blessings. Then she said goodbye," he said. At the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, where the bodies of victims are being identified, Mukesh Patel gave a DNA sample in the hope of confirming his daughter's body. The family has been told it could take up to 72 hours for the results. Monali and Sunny were married seven years ago. Their wedding, which Jignesh had hoped to attend, was held in London. 'I couldn't go because of visa issues," he said. 'She came to me just before she left for her wedding shopping. She said she wished I could come." Since then, Sunny had travelled to India several times, including a long visit during the COVID-19 lockdown when international air traffic was disrupted. 'He stayed here for six months then. He loved India and always said he wanted to return again and again," Jignesh said. Ahmedabad Plane Crash India witnessed one of its worst aviation tragedies on Thursday after a London-bound Air India plane, carrying 242 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, crashed into a medical college complex shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport. One person survived the tragedy. The lone survivor was identified as Indian-origin British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh who was returning to the UK with his brother Ajay Kumar Rakesh, 45, who was in a different row inside the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The aircraft had 232 passengers and 10 crew members, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, on board. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a statement said the aircraft piloted by captain Sumeet Sabharwal with 8,200 hours of experience and first officer Clive Kundar with 1,100 hours of experience made a mayday call just before the crash. First Published: June 15, 2025, 09:32 IST
NDTV
a day ago
- General
- NDTV
'NRI City' Couple Cancelled June 6 Plan, Booked Doomed June 12 London Flight
Anand, Gujarat: Located approximately 76 km from Ahmedabad, Anand is known as Gujarat's 'NRI City'. Of the 274 people who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash on Thursday, 33 from Anand were on board the doomed Flight AI171 en route to London Gatwick. Most of them were non-resident Indians or individuals with strong overseas connections. One such family was that of Monali Patel and her husband, Sunny Patel, both of whom were among the passengers who died when the Boeing 787 aircraft plummeted into the Ahmedabad Medical College complex shortly after takeoff Thursday afternoon. Journey Delayed, Then Doomed Monali and Sunny Patel were not originally scheduled to travel on June 12. They had earlier booked their flight for June 6, but last-minute personal obligations delayed their return to London. Their relative, Jignesh Patel, who resides in Gana village, just three kilometres from central Anand, recounted the couple's final days in India. "They had been here for the last two months," Jignesh told NDTV. "Monali was undergoing medical treatment. Sunny had taken time off from his business in London to be with her." Jignesh described Monali as "more than a real sister." "She was very attached to my two-year-old son," he said. "They didn't have children of their own. But with our kids, especially mine, they had deep bonds." A Final Farewell On the morning of June 12, hours before takeoff, Jignesh visited Monali and Sunny along with his wife and child. He had intended to meet them one last time before their departure. "My sister [Monali] hugged me. She was happy. She gave me her blessings, said she was coming back." According to Jignesh, Monali completed her check-in procedures at the Ahmedabad airport by 11 am. She kept in touch with Jignesh and his wife until moments before boarding. "She sent me a message at 1:20 pm," said Jignesh. "She told my wife that everything was cleared, all was well, and she gave us her blessings. Then she said goodbye." Minutes later, news broke that a plane had crashed after takeoff from Ahmedabad. At first, confusion reigned. Jignesh received a message from a cousin asking about Monali's flight details. "I confirmed it was AI171, and then I saw it on the news. When I checked the passenger list and saw her name, I left immediately for Ahmedabad." Families In Waiting Monali's parents, Mukesh and Jayshree Patel, arrived in Ahmedabad from London a day after the crash. According to Jignesh, the parents were not informed of their daughter's death. They were told that their daughter and son-in-law were in the ICU, being treated for injuries. The parents immediately booked tickets for Ahmedabad and arrived in the city, where they were told what had happened. At the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, where the bodies of victims are being identified, Mukesh Patel gave a DNA sample in the hope of confirming his daughter's body. The family has been told it could take up to 72 hours for the results. "She [Monali's mother] was in shock. We didn't tell her the full details at first. We said Monali and Sunny were in the ICU. We had to manage the news carefully," Jignesh told NDTV. Monali And Sunny Monali and Sunny were married seven years ago. Their wedding, which Jignesh had hoped to attend, was held in London. "I couldn't go because of visa issues," he said. "She came to me just before she left for her wedding shopping. She said she wished I could come." Since then, Sunny had travelled to India several times, including a long visit during the COVID-19 lockdown when international air traffic was disrupted. "He stayed here for six months then. He loved India and always said he wanted to return again and again," Jignesh said. "Monali used to tie Rakhi on my wrist every year. We never considered ourselves cousins. We were family in every sense," he added. "Even the children in our street loved her. When they heard what happened, they started crying. She was like a sister to them, too."
