The recent Air India AI-171 crash has resulted in unimaginable tragedy for two young sisters, leaving them orphaned after their father died in the accident, just weeks after their mother succumbed to cancer. Arjun Patoliya, 37, was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, after fulfilling his wife Bharti’s final wish: to have her ashes scattered in her hometown of Gujarat, India.
Bharti Patoliya had passed away just over two weeks prior to the Air India crash, following what has been described as a courageous battle with cancer. Arjun traveled to India to carry out the solemn task of scattering her ashes, a journey that would tragically become his last.
The Air India flight AI-171, carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, June 12th, at 1.39 pm local time (8.09 am BST). The aircraft struck a medical college hostel, resulting in the deaths of 29 people on the ground in addition to the passengers. In total, 270 lives were lost, with only one survivor, a British man from Leicester, reported in what is now considered the worst aviation disaster in a decade.
News of the tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief and support for the Patoliya sisters. A GoFundMe page has been established to raise funds for the girls' future. The fundraiser has already surpassed a quarter of a million pounds, with all proceeds going into a legal trust to ensure the funds are dedicated to the girls' needs. The description on the GoFundMe page poignantly states, "Arjun left to bid farewell to his wife, never returned to the children they both raised. Now, these two beautiful young girls have been left without parents - their world turned upside down in just over two weeks."
The investigation into the Air India crash is underway. India's aviation ministry has confirmed that the digital flight data recorder, one of the two black boxes, has been recovered from the crash site. The initial focus of the investigation will be on the engine, flaps, and landing gear to determine if there was a loss of engine power or lift after takeoff. The recovered flight data recorder contains data on engine and control settings, and is expected to provide crucial insights into the circumstances leading up to the crash.
The lone survivor of the Air India crash is being hailed as nothing short of a miracle. As the investigation continues, the world mourns the lives lost and rallies around the two young girls who now face a future without their parents. The focus remains on providing them with the support and resources they need to navigate this incredibly difficult chapter in their lives.
