Ahmedabad, June 12 (IANS) Senior cabin crew member Aparna Mahadik, 42, was among those on board Air India Flight AI-171 that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday.
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was en route to London with 242 people on board.
Mahadik was a relative of Maharashtra politician, NCP MP Sunil Tatkare. She was the daughter-in-law of his younger sister.
"Aparna Mahadik is the daughter-in-law of my younger sister. Her family resides in Goregaon, Mumbai," the Raigad MP said.
Tatkare also mentioned that Mahadik's husband -- his nephew -- is himself a cabin crew member with Air India and was in Delhi at the time of the incident.
“The Mahadik family has been informed of the tragedy,” he added.
As a senior cabin crew member, Aparna Mahadik was part of a member 10-attendant team.
Other senior crew included Shradha Dhavan, and the wider team featured attendants like Saineeta Chakravarti, Nganthoi Kongbrailatpam Sharma, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Lamnunthem Singson, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa. The plane was being steered by carried two pilots -- Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 flight hours) and First Officer Clive Kundar (1,100 hours).
The tragic incident occurred shortly after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London Gatwick. The aircraft was carrying 242 passengers and crew members when it went down in the Meghaninagar area.
Union Minister and Gujarat BJP President CR Patil confirmed that former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed in the crash.
“Our leader, former Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani, was travelling on this flight to visit his family. He too perished in this tragedy. May God grant peace to his soul,” Patil said.
Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic crash of Flight AI171, which took place shortly after its take-off from Ahmedabad.
In his first statement since the accident, Wilson called it a "difficult day" for the airline and assured that all efforts are now focused on helping passengers, crew members and their families.
In a video message shared on social media platform X, Wilson said, “This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India. Our efforts are now focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones.”
AI-171 was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick.
Wilson said that the injured were quickly taken to nearby hospitals by local authorities.
He added that Air India is working closely with officials involved in the emergency response and has sent a special team of caregivers to Ahmedabad to provide additional on-ground support.
"We are actively working with the authorities on all emergency response efforts," he said.
“A special team of caregivers from Air India is on their way to Ahmedabad to provide additional support,” Wilson stated.
To help anxious families and friends, Air India has also launched a dedicated helpline.
"We know that many people are concerned for the welfare of their loved ones. We have set up a special helpline that friends and family can reach us at," Wilson said.
--IANS
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