"Forever In Our Hearts": 14 Victims of Air India Plane Crash Whose Stories Shattered Hearts

• The stories of 14 people who were among those who lost their lives to the Air India plane crash broke the hearts of many
• They had boarded an ill-fated Air India flight to London Gatwick which crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad
• It was gathered that about 242 passengers and crew were aboard the flight including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian

The fatal Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad claimed hundreds of lives, including people on the flight and residents in a nearby neighborhood.

Among the many lives lost were 14 people whose stories added to the grief of the tragedy that befell the ill-fated flight bound for London Gatwick.

Legit.ng, in this article, shares the heartbreaking stories of 14 people who lost their lives in the plane crash.

1. Hardik Avaiya and his fiancée Vibhooti Patel

The fatal tragedy that happened in Ahmedabad, India, claimed the lives of hundreds of people including couples.

An Air India flight AI171 which was headed to London Gatwick, had unfortunately crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.

Among the victims of the devastating plane crash were Hardik Avaiya and his fiancée Vibhooti Patel, a couple who had travelled to India to celebrate their engagement, BBC News reports.

Their friend, who shared the heartbreaking news on social media recalled the moment he received the news.

Dhaval Patel, a colleague of Hardik, had been preparing to pick him up from the airport when a phone call shattered his day.

A plane bound for Gatwick had crashed in Ahmedabad, and Dhaval's fears were confirmed when he checked the flight details.

The news made family, friends and community members emotional as they mourned the loss of the young couple whose lives tragically ended.

A service was held in Leicester on Saturday to pay tribute to the couple and everyone gathered to share memories and pay their respects.

Hardik and Vibhooti's trip to India had been filled with anticipation and happiness as they looked forward to marking this milestone in their relationship.

Their dreams and aspirations were cut short in the blink of an eye, leaving behind the burden of grief and sorrow for their loved ones to bear.

2. Prateek Joshi's family of 5

A great loss struck the medical community in Derby with the news that consultant radiologist Prateek Joshi and his family were among the victims of a tragic air disaster.

Dr Joshi, who had been an amazing member of the team at Royal Derby Hospital since 2021, was believed to have been returning from India with his wife Komi Vyas and their three children, Nakul, Pradyut, and Miraya.

A colleague who worked closely with Dr Joshi described him as a "wonderful man" and said his passing had "left a profound void".

Dr Rajeev Singh, clinical director for imaging at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB), also shared his memories of Dr Joshi.

"Prateek was full of joy. He approached everything with a smile, radiated positivity and had a great sense of humour. He touched the lives of so many people, both through his clinical work and as a colleague and friend to many," he said.

Dr Singh added it was "hard to accept" that a man with such a passion for life and his beautiful family had been taken in a fatal way.

The Derby Hindu Temple paid tribute to the family on its Facebook page, saying:

"Dr Joshi [and his family] were devotees of our Mandir and supported us through their sincere service and dedication. We pray to Lord Shiva to grant eternal peace to the departed souls and to give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense loss."

Neil Ryan, a neighbour of the Joshis, also remembered them fondly, describing them as "the nicest family".

3. The Nanabawa family of 3

A family of three from Gloucester was among those who lost their lives in the tragic Air India plane crash.

Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa were aboard the ill-fated flight.

The family was well-respected in their community for their kindness and generosity to everyone.

A statement from the Nanabawa family, shared through a close friend, expressed their grief, saying they were "heartbroken" and "devastated", adding that "we are still coming to terms with the enormity of what has happened".

Imam Abdullah paid tribute to the family, describing them as widely loved and deeply respected.

He said:

"They were widely loved and deeply respected. His quiet generosity, her warmth and kindness, and their daughter's bright, joyful spirit made a lasting impact on everyone who knew them. This tragedy has shaken our entire community. In a place where people know and care for one another, the pain is being shared by many."

The Gloucester Muslim Society also paid its respects to the family, offering its "most sincere and deepest condolences".

In a heartfelt message, they said:

"No words can truly ease the pain of such a profound loss, but we pray that the family may find solace in the tremendous outpouring of compassion and solidarity from communities across the world. May their cherished memories provide comfort, and may they rest in eternal peace."

The community came together to mourn the loss of the Nanabawa family, remembering their kindness, generosity, and warm spirits.

4. British couple Ashok and Shobhana Patel

A family is struggling to accept the painful loss of Ashok Patel, a financial adviser, and Shobhana Patel, a retired microbiologist, who were on a flight that ended in tragedy.

The couple, who lived in Orpington, Kent, was returning home to their loving family, including their two sons, Miten and Hemit, their daughter-in-law Shivani, and two grandchildren, Amyra and Arjun.

In an emotional interview, Miten Patel, the eldest son, shared his last memories of his parents.

He mentioned that they had spoken to him and his granddaughter Amyra while waiting for their flight to depart, expressing their excitement to see their grandchildren soon.

Miten fondly remembered his parents as people who were full of life and never gave up in tough times.

He said:

"We were so fortunate and so proud to have been given them as our parents, we will miss them every day and make sure the kids remember the good times with Baa and Dada [grandma and granddad]."

Ashok and Shobhana's family described them as pillars of strength, always ready to offer a helping hand and a listening ear.

Their love for their family was shown in everything they did, and their grandchildren adored them.

The couple's passing has left a void in the lives of those who knew them, and their family will deeply miss them.

5. Raxa Modha and 2-year-old grandson Rudra

Tragedy struck the Wellingborough community with the news that Raxa Modha and her two-year-old grandson, Rudra, were among those on board the ill-fated plane.

The duo were believed to have been returning to England for a memorial service for Ms Modha's late husband, Kishor, who passed away in April after a battle with cancer.

Raj Mishra, the mayor of Wellingborough, expressed his condolences to the families and friends affected by the tragedy.

In a heartfelt message, he said:

"I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends and all those affected by this heartbreaking event. May their memories be a blessing, and may we come together to support one another in this time of grief."

Man cancels flight with Air India

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a Nigerian man expressed his disappointment over the action of Air India airline after he cancelled his flight.

According to him, he had chosen to cancel his flight with the airline 'after a continuous series of flight cancellations and growing concerns'.

Source: Legit.ng