The crash of Air India Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has plunged countless families into mourning. As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the focus is also drawn to the personal tragedies behind the headlines. Among the crew members was Roshni Rajendra Songhare, a 27-year-old air hostess from Dombivili, whose family is grappling with unimaginable grief. Similarly, in Manipur, the family of 21-year-old Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam is desperately seeking information and clinging to hope, as every unanswered call to her phone deepens their dread.
Roshni Rajendra Songhare, a resident of Madhavi Bungalow area in Dombivili, had recently joined Air India and was fulfilling her dream of becoming an air hostess. According to relatives, she was a "bright and intelligent" young woman who achieved her goals after completing her education. In her neighborhood, her Air India uniform was a symbol of pride. The news of the crash sent her parents and brother rushing to Mumbai airport.
Another heart-wrenching story emerges from Manipur, where the family of Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. Nganthoi, a 21-year-old cabin crew member, had called her elder sister just hours before the flight, telling her that she would be flying to London and would be out of contact for a few days. Those words turned out to be her last. Nganthoi's family last heard from her just before takeoff. "I'm going to London. In a few minutes, we'll take off. We may not be able to talk for a while," read the message. They didn't know those words might be her last.
Kongbrailatpam’s family members are on their knees on the floor, frantically flipping through family photo albums. Tears continue to stream down their faces as they search for her picture. "My child, my child, I raised with these hands, where have you gone? I want to see you. Where are you," a woman can be heard saying. “Please bring my phone, I need to see her photos,” said another woman.
Adding to the family's distress, Nganthoi's phone continues to ring, fueling a sliver of hope amidst the devastation. "Her phone rang several times. The internet is still on. It's still receiving signals. That means something, doesn't it?" a relative told PTI. The family's desperate hope is a stark reminder of the human element in this tragedy. Nganthoi was not new to the skies. She had worked as cabin crew with Air India for three years, ever since she got selected at a recruitment drive in Imphal, while still pursuing her undergraduate studies. She was based in Mumbai, a city she had grown to love. But her cousin reveals a chilling memory: “She once told me she was terrified of plane crashes. She didn't know what she'd do if she was in one. That fear haunted her.” Today, that fear has turned into the family's nightmare.
The Ahmedabad plane crash has claimed the lives of 241 of the 242 people on board, leaving behind a trail of grief and devastation. While investigations into the cause of the crash are underway, the focus remains on supporting the families of the victims and honoring the memories of those who were lost.
