Guwahati: Two cabin crew members from Manipur, Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singson, were among those who lost their lives in the tragic Air India flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The flight, bound for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad, crashed shortly after take-off earlier on Thursday evening, from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
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Crew member Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam, a 22-year-old Meitei woman, hailed from Thoubal district in the Imphal Valley, while Lamnunthem Singson, a 28-year-old Kuki woman, was from Kangpokpi district.
When news broke about the plane crash, relatives and neighbours gathered at the residence of Nganthoi even as the family members were waiting for information about her.
According to the family members, Nganthoi last spoke to her family at 9 am on Thursday.
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The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew members, departed Ahmedabad at 13:38 IST. While authorities have not yet disclosed the precise nature of the accident, they have confirmed that injured passengers are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. The extent of casualties remains unconfirmed, but concerns are high for all individuals on the flight.
Among the 242 individuals on the flight, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national.
Air India has established a dedicated passenger information hotline at 1800 5691 444 to assist concerned family members and provide ongoing updates. The names of the two Northeast Indian cabin crew members emerged from an unverified Gentec Crew List circulating for the ill-fated AI-171.
National Leaders Express Grief
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, conveyed her deep distress over the catastrophic crash. “I am deeply distressed to learn about the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. It is a heart-rending disaster. My thoughts and prayers are with the affected people. The nation stands with them in this hour of indescribable grief,” read a post from the official Twitter account of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his condolences on X, stating, “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.”
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla expressed profound sorrow over the incident. Raj Bhavan Manipur released a statement: “The Hon’ble Governor of Manipur has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic and shocking incident of an aircraft crash that occurred during a flight from Ahmedabad to London. He has prayed to the Almighty for the speedy recovery of all those injured in this unfortunate mishap.”
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