Air India Crash: Family Emotionally Mourns Flight Attendant, Shares What Many Do Not Know About Her

• The funeral of flight attendant Saineeta Chakravarti, a victim of the tragic June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, was held in Mumbai after DNA confirmation
• Over 100 mourners, including family, colleagues, and friends, gathered in heavy rain to pay their last respects
• Chakravarti, remembered for her dedication and passion, was the sole provider for her family and left behind a legacy of warmth and commitment

The final rites of flight attendant Saineeta Chakravarti, 35, one of the victims of the tragic June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, were conducted at her home in Santacruz on Monday.

The solemn ceremony followed the confirmation of her identity through DNA matching with her family.

Mourning the loss of a dedicated crew member

Chakravarti’s remains were the first among the 12-member crew, most of whom hailed from Mumbai, to be returned to the city.

Her funeral was attended by over 100 people, including family members, distant relatives, neighbors, and fellow Air India crew members. Former colleagues from her time at GoAir were also present, braving heavy rains to pay their last respects.

Many of her colleagues had taken time off work, while others flew into Mumbai and headed directly to the funeral from the airport.

Speaking fondly of Chakravarti, an Air India colleague who had known her for eight years said, “She was always courteous and had a smile on her face. She was very communicative and understanding.”

Life of passion and dedication

Chakravarti’s grandmother, Anjali Chakaravarti, shared cherished memories of her granddaughter’s adventurous spirit, flipping through photos of her travels. “She was fierce and passionate about her job.

She loved her independence, took care of her family dearly and had great dreams,” she said. Anjali paused on a photo from Bangkok, the last trip Saineeta had taken, recalling how she always brought gifts from her travels. “Last time, she had brought some perfumes on Eid,” she added with tears in her eyes.

From childhood, Saineeta had been fascinated by airplanes, drawing inspiration from her aunt, who was also a flight attendant. “She took inspiration from me and passed it along to her nieces, and made me quite proud,” her aunt said, reflecting on her influence.

As the sole breadwinner in her immediate family of three, Chakravarti was deeply devoted to her loved ones. Her father, Abin Chakravarti, was visibly exhausted after traveling to Ahmedabad to identify his daughter’s remains and complete extensive paperwork.

“We were not in a state to travel, so we sent two of her cousins for the DNA sampling. But a lot of documentation work had to be done, so I had to go. Air India gave us two more tickets for me and one aide, and we flew down the day before yesterday. We got a glimpse of the crash site. I can’t get the visuals out of my head. I haven’t had time to process the loss,” he said.

Heartfelt goodbye

As Saineeta’s pyre burned, her distraught mother bid her farewell with the solemn cry of "Jai Hind," a phrase that echoed through the prayer room. Overwhelmed with grief, she stated, “My daughter gave her life for Air India.”

The tragic loss of Saineeta Chakravarti has left a void in the hearts of her family, friends, and colleagues. As the aviation community mourns, she is remembered as a dedicated professional and a beloved daughter who brought joy to those around her.

Paramedic who witnessed tragedy shares observation

Legit.ng earlier reported that on June 12, Satinder Singh Sandhu, a paramedic supervisor with GVK-EMRI emergency ambulance service, was having lunch with colleagues at the 1,200-bed Medicity hospital in Ahmedabad when a deafening explosion shook the area.

Running outside, Sandhu witnessed a man emerging from the BJ Medical College hostel gates, engulfed in flames, as a fire raged behind him.

Source: Legit.ng