In a heart-wrenching tragedy that has plunged the nation into mourning, two young cabin crew members from Manipur — Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singson — were among those who lost their lives in the devastating Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon.
The ill-fated Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff at 1:38 PM from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, tragically collided with the BJ Medical College hostel, located adjacent to the Civil Hospital.
The crash occurred during lunch hour when the hostel mess was crowded with students, worsening the scale of the disaster. Among the deceased, the deaths of Nganthoi and Lamnunthem — both bright and promising individuals from Manipur — have particularly shaken the northeastern state, which is grappling with immense grief.
The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain (LTC) with over 8,200 hours of flying experience, assisted by First Officer Clive Kunder, who had 1,100 flying hours. Other cabin crew members on board included Shradha Dhavan, Aparna Mahadik, Saineeta Chakravarti, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa.
Air India, confirming the accident, has suspended all operations at the Ahmedabad airport until further notice. In a symbolic gesture of mourning, the airline has turned its social media profile black, a step last taken after the Kozhikode crash in 2020.
The airline has also set up a helpline (1800 5691 444) for families seeking information. Preliminary investigations into the cause of the crash are currently underway, with aviation authorities and emergency responders present at the site.
As the nation prays for the departed souls, special condolences are pouring in for the families of Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singson, whose lives were cut short in the line of duty. Their dedication, courage, and service will always be remembered.
