2 days ago
Fears of flying at Britain's Gatwick airport after Air India crash
People at Britain's Gatwick Airport on June 12, following the crash of a Gatwick-bound Air India plane in the Indian city of Ahmedabad. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
GATWICK AIRPORT, United Kingdom - Passengers flying in and out of London's Gatwick airport on June 12 voiced fears and anxiety about their safety after the Air India crash that claimed more than 200 lives.
'It's absolutely terrible. There were so many people inside' the aeroplane, said Ms Olivia Paulin, 27, a researcher who had just checked in for a short flight to Scotland.
'You always think it happens to other people only.'
The mood was sombre at the airport, south of the UK capital, as many people arrived off long flights to the news that an Air India Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 had crashed just after take-off from the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad.
There were 242 people on board the flight which was bound for Gatwick, including 53 UK nationals.
Incredibly, one man survived the crash. He was named in reports as Ramesh Viswashkumar, 40, from Leicester in central England.
Gatwick opened a support centre for any family and friends gathering at the airport in search of news of the flight, which had been due to arrive at 6.25pm on June 12 (1.25am on June 13 in Singapore).
By the end of the morning, dozens of journalists from the world's media had arrived at the airport, setting up in the northern terminal and kept well away from the Air India counter.
It was deserted and a flight to Goa which had been due to leave later on June 12 was cancelled.
'Nervous flyer'
'It's so sad,' said Eddy, 63, travelling back from Croatia and watching a video of the crash which came on a breaking news alert on his mobile phone as he walked through arrivals.
'We were flying on a similar plane. I feel safe when I fly, but it could be us. So sad. All of them lost their lives.'
Members of the media at Britain's Gatwick Airport on June 12, following the Air India crash.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Many people hurrying through the airport did not want to comment on the tragedy.
A young British woman in her 20s had checked in for her flight to Turkey, but told AFP: 'I don't want to talk about it. I am a nervous flyer. I have seen it, but I don't want to talk about it.'
Researcher Ms Paulin told AFP: 'It's very scary. Above all because it's a very well known airline with planes you presume they are very safe.'
'It makes me more nervous for travelling. You can't control this feeling.'
'It was scary seeing it in the news, especially before going to Gatwick airport.' AFP
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