The world is in mourning following the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, India, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew on Thursday. Among those lost were Fiongal Greenlaw, 39, and his husband Jamie Meek, 45, a couple who ran a spiritual wellness center in London and had recently appeared on ITV's "This Morning."
The news has reverberated through the UK, with tributes pouring in from friends, fans, and colleagues. Among those expressing their grief is "Made In Chelsea" star Alex Mytton, who took to social media to share his heartfelt condolences. Mytton revealed that he and his partner, Hannah Wood, were close friends with Fiongal and Jamie, describing them as "lovely friends."
In an emotional Instagram post, Mytton wrote, "A bit lost for words and feeling a tad emotionally exhausted so I just want to write a short message so as to get the message out. Our lovely friends Fiongal & Jamie were very sadly killed yesterday in the plane crash in India." He further added that he wanted to express more about the couple, as they were close to him and Hannah Wood.
Mytton also announced that he would be organizing a "meet up & hug in the park" in Hyde Park the following day, Saturday, June 14th, for anyone feeling "heavy, sad, or just wanna hang out with some other humans." He explained that he felt a need to create a vigil in honor of his friends and to provide a space for collective grieving amidst the widespread sadness.
Jamie Laing, also a former "Made In Chelsea" star, also paid tribute to Fiongal. Taking to Instagram Stories, Laing shared a touching message, saying, "I will miss you dear friend. A wonderful human with a wonderful soul."
Fiongal Greenlaw had gained recent recognition for his appearances on "This Morning" as a spiritual advisor. He first appeared in January, giving aura readings to hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley. He returned in April, appearing alongside Shephard, Deeley, and Josie Gibson. Following his initial appearance, The Wellness Foundry, the wellness brand co-founded by Fiongal and Jamie, posted on Instagram, "So this happened ... The biggest gig so far! Fiongal on This Morning - it was very nerve-wracking but he was honoured to chat about one of his favourite topics to such a big audience."
The Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to London's Gatwick Airport from Ahmedabad when it crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday. According to Air India, the flight carried 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national, along with 12 crew members. A British national, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, was the sole survivor of the crash.
The crash has led to widespread grief and mourning, with tributes pouring in for the victims from around the world. The Indian government has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, and Boeing has offered its support to the investigation.