Latest news with #Kej
Mint
12-07-2025
- General
- Mint
Grammy-Winning musician Ricky Kej reveals he was meant to be on Ethiopian Airlines crash flight: 'My life was saved'
Grammy-winning Indian composer Ricky Kej has made a startling revelation about a near-death experience involving the Ethiopian Airlines crash of 2019. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kej disclosed that he had originally booked a seat on the ill-fated flight, which crashed en route to Kenya, killing all 157 people on board. Recounting the moment that changed his fate, Kej wrote, "I had booked a ticket on the Ethiopian Airlines flight to Kenya that unfortunately crashed. In the last minute, a colleague insisted I travel on an earlier flight, so my life was saved. Many attendees were killed on the flight. So this is personal for me, because Boeing and only Boeing was responsible for those deaths (sic)." Kej's emotional post came in response to a thread by journalist Barkha Dutt, who had criticised the western media's narrative around a recent Air India crash report and highlighted concerns around Boeing's systems. She wrote, 'Scandalous that Air India Crash report being used by western media to blame pilots for cutting fuel. The report does not say that at all. But yes, the report flags an FAA advisory on a problem with Boeing fuel switches locking - in that case why has the report not recommended further investigations against 787 planes (sic)' The tragic crash, which took place on March 10, 2019, involved a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and followed a similar disaster just five months earlier — the Lion Air crash in Indonesia. The two incidents, both involving the same aircraft model, raised urgent global concerns about the safety of Boeing's MCAS (Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System), a software feature later found to be faulty and inadequately disclosed to pilots. More than five years after the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy, Kej's revelation underscores the continued scrutiny of Boeing's role in the twin disasters — and the lack of accountability that still angers victims' families and survivors.
NDTV
12-07-2025
- General
- NDTV
Grammy Winner Ricky Kej Was To Fly On Boeing Ethiopian Airlines Flight That Crashed In 2019, A Last-Minute Call Saved Him
New Delhi: On June 12, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm, heading to London Gatwick. Within 32 seconds, it crashed into a medical hostel near the airport, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 individuals on the ground. A British-Indian man seated in row 11A was the sole survivor. This marked the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 since its commercial launch in 2011. A preliminary investigation report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released last night, outlines several contributing factors while also leaving key questions unanswered about what went wrong during those final moments. As coverage of the tragedy continues, senior journalist Barkha Dutt flagged how parts of the crash report were being interpreted. "Scandalous that Air India Crash report being used by western media to blame pilots for cutting fuel. The report does not say that at all. But yes, the report flags an FAA advisory on a problem with Boeing fuel switches locking - in that case why has the report not recommended further investigations against 787 planes?" she posted on X, formerly Twitter. Replying to the post, Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej wrote that the issue hits close to home for him. "Absolutely agree. This is from the Boeing playbook. Blame the pilots and settle lawsuits quietly. Control the narrative. They did the same with the two 737 Max crashes in 2019," Kej wrote. He then revealed a harrowing personal account linked to one of the 2019 crashes, "I had booked a ticket on the Ethiopian Airlines flight to Kenya that unfortunately crashed. In the last minute, a colleague insisted I travel on an earlier flight, so my life was saved. Many attendees were killed on the flight. So this is personal for me, because Boeing and only Boeing was responsible for those deaths." Dutt responded: "Yes and that was the precise crash that was the seminal moment. This is the repeat of the 737 max." Kej elaborated further on the systemic issues that contributed to the 2019 disaster. "Exactly.. the Ethiopian crash happened after the LION air crash. 2 crashes within 5 months. Boeing did the same, blamed the pilots.. also implied that non-western pilots are not as good. Then it turned out that the planes had a hidden MCAS system which malfunctioned. The system was kept hidden from the pilots and even the flight manual. So the pilots had to deal with a disastrous malfunction of a faulty system they did not even know existed on the plane!! Till this day, NO ONE from Boeing has been disciplined or fired for this. No heads rolled. Zero accountability, except for some pay outs. They do not care about lives.. and never will. Only profits." About Ethiopian Airlines Crash The Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash occurred on March 10, 2019, just minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board. It was the second fatal crash involving the Boeing 737 Max in less than five months, following the Lion Air crash in Indonesia in October 2018. Both incidents were linked to a software known as MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System), which was designed to prevent the plane from stalling but instead forced the aircraft into uncontrollable dives. Investigations later revealed that Boeing had failed to disclose the MCAS system properly to pilots and regulators, and that the flight manuals lacked critical information. The scandal led to a worldwide grounding of the 737 Max fleet and intense scrutiny of Boeing's safety practices and regulatory oversight.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Grammy Award-winning musician Ricky Kej questions Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol's DDLJ's iconic scene, netizens defend it with facts: 'Romance in holding his hand and getting on to train has...'
Grammy winner Ricky Kej questioned the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge train scene. He suggested Kajol's character could have easily boarded. Internet users countered with lehenga and train structure arguments. Kej humorously engaged with the responses. The debate draws parallels to Titanic's door scene. Romantics defended the scene's emotional value. The film is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Nearly 30 years after Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge first hit theatres, its legendary train climax is still sparking debate—this time, courtesy of Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej . While the scene where Shah Rukh Khan 's Raj pulls Kajol 's Simran onto a moving train remains etched in Bollywood history, Kej's tongue-in-cheek critique has reignited discussions online. Kej reposted the scene shared by an X user on Wednesday, along with the caption, 'If any of the film makers had ever been on a train in their lives.. they would have known that Kajol could have entered from any door, and would have been able to reach Shah Rukh Khan.' However, the internet went great lengths to counter Kej's argument. Check out the post here: An X user commented on Kej's post, 'Nah she couldn't. She was wearing a lehenga which can be heavy & doesn't allow free movements. And the train was running, not just moving. If she tried to board the train without anyone pulling her up, she'd have been under the train. That's why everyone in the train is seated. Director already thought what you are thinking now.' To which, Kej replied with, 'Hahahaha.. true!' Another user countered Kej by claiming that the sleeper coaches of Indian trains in 1995 weren't really interconnected. 'Most sleeper coaches of general category were not connected by vestibules in 90s and only Air Conditioned and reserved category coaches were. But, yeah she could have taken this door but would not have noticed it because she was focused on Raj,' they wrote. Kej responded, 'Hahahahha.. thanks for the analysis!' Ricky Kej also agreed 'absolutely' with a social media user who drew a parallel between the debated flaw in DDLJ's climax and the long-standing argument surrounding James Cameron's Titanic. The user humorously suggested that the DDLJ train scene could be Bollywood's version of the 'Could Jack and Rose both fit on the door?' debate—a question that has sparked discussions among Titanic fans for decades. Romantics were quick to jump in, asking Ricky Kej to let emotion win over logic. One user pleaded, 'Please don't let logic spoil a good ol' love story,' to which Kej replied with a lighthearted 'Hahahaha.. sorry!!' Others defended the scene's emotional depth, saying Simran's focus was entirely on reuniting with Raj and that the moment held a special kind of cinematic magic. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Kej took the reactions in stride, responding to the comments with laughter and good humour. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, one of Indian cinema's most iconic and successful films, was produced by Aditya Chopra 's Yash Raj Films . This year marks a major milestone as the beloved romantic drama completes 30 years since its theatrical release on October 16, 1995.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge's iconic train climax with Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol has a mistake, says Ricky Kej; internet corrects him: ‘If any of the filmmakers had been on a train…'
India's multiple time Grammy Award-winning music composer Ricky Kej isn't particularly convinced by the iconic climax of Aditya Chopra's 1995 romantic film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The memorable scene involves Shah Rukh Khan's Raj pulling his love interest, Kajol's Simran, onto a moving train after she runs towards him following a go-ahead from her orthodox, stubborn father, late Amrish Puri's Chaudhry Baldev Singh. Kej reposted the scene shared by an X user on Wednesday, along with the caption, 'If any of the film makers had ever been on a train in their lives.. they would have known that Kajol could have entered from any door, and would have been able to reach Shah Rukh Khan.' However, the internet went great lengths to counter Kej's argument. If any of the film makers had ever been on a train in their lives.. they would have known that Kajol could have entered from any door, and would have been able to reach Shah Rukh Khan. — Ricky Kej (@rickykej) July 9, 2025 An X user commented on Kej's post, 'Nah she couldn't. She was wearing a lehenga which can be heavy & doesn't allow free movements. And the train was running, not just moving. If she tried to board the train without anyone pulling her up, she'd have been under the train. That's why everyone in the train is seated. Director already thought what you are thinking now.' To which, Kej replied with, 'Hahahaha.. true!' Another user countered Kej by claiming that the sleeper coaches of Indian trains in 1995 weren't really interconnected. 'Most sleeper coaches of general category were not connected by vestibules in 90s and only Air Conditioned and reserved category coaches were. But, yeah she could have taken this door but would not have noticed it because she was focused on Raj,' they wrote. Kej responded, 'Hahahahha.. thanks for the analysis!' Ricky – Most sleeper coaches of general category were not connected by vestibules in 90s and only Air Conditioned and reserved category coaches were. But, yeah she could have taken this door but would not have noticed it because she was focused on Raj. — Vivek Shukla (@vivekshukla) July 9, 2025 Kej also agreed 'absolutely' with a third user who compared the said flaw in DDLJ's climax to the perennially debatable flaw in the climax of James Cameron's 1997 iconic romance epic Titanic. For years, fans have argued that Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack could've easily shared the plank with Kate Winslet's Rose after the ship that they were on, Titanic, sank post a collision with an iceberg. The user pointed out with a meme, 'This could be Bollywood's version of 'could Jack and Rose both fit on the door in Titanic?' The romantics weren't far behind as they urged Kej to invoke magic, and not logic. An X user addressed Kej, 'Pls dont let logic spoil a good'ol live story!' He replied with a 'Hahahaha.. sorry!!' Another commented, 'Nah, she had blinkers on. All the emotion directed towards uniting with Raj. I don't blame the dir here.' 'No the romance in holding his hand and getting on to train has a different emotion. Dont shatter our utopia pls,' said a third one. Kej responded to both by laughing. Also Read — Kajol admits she's like the 'Maa' from K3G who'd whistle and hoot for kids Nysa, Yug when they're on stage: 'It really embarrasses them' Another X user summed it up well: 'Reaching Shah Rukh Khan wasn't the only goal. Reaching Audience ≥ Reaching Shah Rukh Khan.' Kej agreed with them by replying, 'Absolutely :).' Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, one of the most popular and successful Indian films of all time, is produced by Aditya Chopra's Yash Raj Films. This year, it completes 30 years since its release on October 16, 1995.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
‘Padma award validates all decisions I've made' says musician Ricky Kej
Among the Padma awardees gathered at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday evening to receive one of the country's highest civilian honours, was Bengaluru's own musician Ricky Kej who attended the ceremony with his mother on his arm. In a brief chat on a flight en route the USA, the three-time Grammy award winner shared the surreal joy of receiving the Padma Shri, saying, 'The award itself was announced on the eve of Republic Day this year and I was overjoyed, but it felt absolutely real only when I actually stepped into the Rashtrapati Bhavan.' Explaining the preparation that happens behind the scenes of what the nation sees on screen, he added, 'In the morning, a rehearsal was organised and it helped all of us award winners to be less nervous – we practiced the entire event flow, and pathway to walk to the president. We also got to know a little bit about the history of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.' Despite this, Kej's nerves had not completely dissipated. 'When my name was called out, it was a complete blur,' he recalls. Because of being 'humbled by the entire event itself', Kej chose to make the walk barefoot. 'It is so amazing that the award goes to unsung heroes – people who are doing amazing work at the grassroots level, helping communities that have been historically left behind, and furthering the arts. It felt like I was in a temple and it was overwhelming as a spiritual moment. That is why I decided to walk barefoot and accept the award,' he explains, adding that despite his four Grammy nominations and three wins, the Padma Shri is the most special to him.
