Air India flight AI-171, en route from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to London, was involved in a tragic accident on Thursday. The accident resulted in the immediate deaths of five members of a single family: a doctor couple from Banswara district, Rajasthan, and their three young children. This incident has caused widespread grief and mourning throughout Rajasthan and the nation.
Who were the victims?
The deceased family has been identified as Dr. Kauni Vyas, her husband Dr. Pradeep Joshi, and their three children – Pradyut, Miraya, and Nakul. The family had long-standing connections to the medical field in London and were in India for a short period. Dr. Kauni had recently resigned from a private hospital in Udaipur to permanently relocate to London with her husband and children.
The Heartbreaking Beginning
Tragically, the family took a selfie at the airport just minutes before the flight, which has now become their last photograph. As this final selfie emerged on social media, it was met with an outpouring of condolences and grief. The accident occurred during the takeoff of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.
The flight carried a total of 242 passengers, including 196 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian citizen. Initial reports suggest the possibility of a technical malfunction, but a thorough investigation has been launched. Several other individuals from various districts of Rajasthan were also on board.
Among them were a marble businessman's son and daughter from Udaipur, a young person from Bikaner, and two other young men working as domestic helpers in London. In total, 12 people from Rajasthan were affected by this tragedy.
Mourning and Condolences
Homes in Banswara, Udaipur, and Bikaner are shrouded in mourning. Relatives are inconsolable, struggling to accept the sudden and tragic loss of their loved ones. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed deep sorrow over the incident and spoke to the bereaved families, offering his condolences.
He assured them that the government will provide all possible assistance and is working with the Ministry of External Affairs to take necessary steps. The Chief Minister also instructed officials to handle the families' needs with sensitivity.
Investigation into the Cause of the Accident
This accident has once again raised questions about air travel safety. However, Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) teams have begun investigations to determine the cause of the accident. While the incident is subject to technical investigation, it also underscores the heartbreaking loss of a family and the sudden end of innocent lives.
Through their final selfie, the family seemed to remind us all of life's fragility – how, when, and where its course might change, remains unknown.
