Rupal Patel (45), a London resident visiting her maternal home in Uttarsanda village of Nadiad in Gujarat’s Kheda district for medical treatment, was among the 241 people who lost their lives in the tragic Air India flight crash near Ahmedabad on Thursday. She is survived by her husband and three children.
Her brother, Pawan Patel, recounted the heart-wrenching final moments with his sister before she boarded the ill-fated flight. “I had gone to drop her at the airport. She had come to Nadiad for treatment and was returning to London, where she lived with her family for the past 15 years,” he said.
“I helped her with her luggage because she was not well. I hugged her before she left and asked her to take care. Soon after I reached home, I heard about the crash. It shattered us,” Pawan added. His DNA sample has been collected to help with the identification process, the results of which are expected within 72 hours.
Heena Patel, Rupal’s sister-in-law, also mourned the loss, stating that Rupal had been staying with their family during her treatment in India.
The devastating crash of Air India flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 bound for London Gatwick, occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft crashed into a resident doctors’ hostel building, killing all 241 onboard, including 12 crew members.
Rescue efforts are underway with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deploying seven teams to the site. As of now, 81 bodies have been recovered, said NDRF Inspector Vinay Kumar.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that a formal investigation has been launched by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in accordance with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). A high-level committee is also being formed to examine the circumstances of the crash and recommend safety improvements.
The US-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is preparing to send a team to India to assist with the investigation.
The flight was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. The Tata-owned airline has activated emergency response lines, including a dedicated passenger hotline: 1800 5691 444 (for India) and +91 8062779200 (for international callers).
In a remarkable turn of events, one person — a British national of Indian origin — survived the crash, authorities confirmed.
The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with 8,200 flight hours, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours. The aircraft took off at 1:39 PM IST on June 12 and made a Mayday call shortly afterward. It lost contact with Air Traffic Control moments later and crashed outside the airport perimeter, where thick black smoke was seen billowing.
In a gesture of support, the Tata Group has announced a compensation of ₹1 crore for the family of each deceased passenger.