A tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad claimed the life of Aparna Mahadik, a cabin crew member and relative of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Sunil Tatkare, according to a statement. The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, went down in the Meghaninagar area, causing a massive fire due to its heavy fuel load. Tatkare, representing the Raigad constituency in Maharashtra, expressed profound grief over the loss of his relative, who was among the 10 cabin crew members on board. “It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the loss of Aparna Mahadik, a dedicated crew member of the ill-fated Air India flight,” the statement read.
The crash, one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years, resulted in the deaths of 241 people, with only one survivor reported. The incident has drawn condolences from leaders worldwide, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the tragedy as “heartbreaking beyond words” in a post on X. Air India has established a hotline (1800 5691 444) to assist affected families and is cooperating with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is probing the cause of the crash.