Online Reporter
AHMEDABAD. − The death toll in the Air India plane crash on Thursday has now risen to 270.
All but one of those on board the flight bound for London Gatwick Airport that crashed shortly after take-off in western India died, the airline has confirmed.
There were 242 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian.
A number of people, including four medical students, living in a residential area of Ahmedabad where the plane came down have also died, a senior health official told the BBC.
One passenger, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived the crash and was treated in hospital for injuries.
Details are still emerging, but these are the people so far confirmed by the BBC to have died.
HARDIK AVAIYA AND VIBOOTI PATEL
A couple who went to India to celebrate their engagement have been named among the victims.
Hardik Avaiya and his fiancee Vibhooti Patel were among those being remembered at a service in Leicester on Saturday.
Dhaval Patel, who worked with Mr Avaiya, said: “We were on our way to pick him up when I got a call to say a plane to Gatwick had crashed in Ahmedabad.
“So we immediately checked the ticket and matched the flight number and we just cried.”
DHIR AND HEER BAXI
Sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi, both in their early 20s, were returning home to London on the flight, having visited India to surprise their grandmother for her birthday.
Their cousin Ishan Baxi, who lives in Ahmedabad, told PA news agency the siblings had an “amazing aura” and had ambitions to “roam around the world”.
Heer worked as a product manager and “loved statistics and finance”, while Dhir was a fashion designer who had studied at Parsons Paris art and design school, Mr Baxi said.
KALYANI AND GAURAV BRAHMBATT
Husband and wife Kalyani and Gaurav Brahmbhatt were onboard the Air India flight, their close friend Trupti Telrandhe told the BBC.
She said Gaurav and her husband Amul worked together for five years in a company in Burton-upon-Trent in the UK.
“This was the time we all met together and started our family journey in 2009,” she said.
“They were very close friends,” the pharmacist from Derby said. “They never used to tell us that they’re going to visit us. It was always a surprise visit.”
THE GIRISH FAMILY
A family of four, from north-west London, have also been identified.
Hemaxi Shantilal and her husband Girish Lagli, from Wembley, were on board the London-bound flight with their young children Aadiv and Taksvi Girish.
It is believed the family were sat in row 30 of the aircraft with Taksvi sitting on an adult’s lap.
FIONGAL AND JAMIE GREENLAW-MEEK
Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, a married British couple, ran a spiritual wellness centre in London.
They posted on Instagram earlier on Thursday saying they were about to board the flight from Ahmedabad airport.
In the video, they were seen laughing and joking with each other about their trip to India.
THE JOSHI FAMILY
A consultant radiologist from Derby, his wife and three young children have been named among the victims.
Prateek Joshi, who worked at the Royal Derby Hospital since 2021, is believed to have been travelling back from India, where his wife Komi Vyas and their three children – five-year-old twin boys Nakul and Pradyut and eight-year-old daughter Miraya, eight – were based.
A colleague who worked closely with Dr Joshi described him as a “wonderful man” and said his passing had “left a profound void”.
“Prateek was full of joy,” Dr Rajeev Singh, clinical director for imaging at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB), said. “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.”
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, who lived next door to them for two years, also described them as “the nicest family”.
MOHAMMED ADNAN MASTER
Mohammed Adnan Master had a wife and 11-month-old baby, according to the mosque where he worshipped.
The Cann Hall Deen & Education Trust, east London, posted on social media: “Our sincerest condolences are extended to his wife and 11-month-old baby.”
RAXA MODHA AND HER TWO-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON RUDRA MODHA
A woman and her grandson from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire were also on board the plane.
Raxa Modha, and her two-year-old grandson, Rudra, were believed to have been flying back to England for a memorial service for Ms Modha’s late husband, Kishor, who died in April from cancer.
Raj Mishra, the mayor of Wellingborough, 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.”
THE NANABAWA FAMILY
Three of the British nationals who died in the incident were a family who lived in Gloucester.
Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa were all on board the flight.
A statement on behalf of their family said they were “heartbroken” and “devastated”, adding that “we are still coming to terms with the enormity of what has happened”.
“They were widely loved and deeply respected,” Imam Abdullah said.
“His (Akeel’s) quiet generosity, her [Hannaa’s] warmth and kindness, and their daughter’s [Sara’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.”
ASHOK AND SHOBANA PATEL
Ashok Patel, a financial adviser, and Shobhana Patel, a retired microbiologist, were living in Orpington, Kent.
The British couple were on the plane returning home to their two sons, Miten and Hemit, their daughter-in-law Shivani, as well as two grandchildren, Amyra and Arjun.
Miten, the eldest son, told the BBC the couple had spoken to him and Amyra whilst waiting for their flight to depart. They said they were excited that they would soon see their grandchildren again.
They were both full of life and never gave up when times were tough, Miten 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],” he added.
THE SYED FAMILY
Also on the plane were Javed Syed and his wife Mariam, from west London.
They were onboard with their two young children Zayn and Amani, and were returning from a holiday in India.
Mrs Syed worked at Harrods and Mr Syed worked at a west London hotel.
ADAM AND HASINA TAJU AND THEIR SON-IN-LAW ALTAFHUSEN PATEL
Adam Taju, 72, and his wife Hasina, 70, were flying back from Ahmedabad with their 51-year-old son-in-law, Altafhusen Patel. All three lived in London. The couple’s granddaughter, Ammaarah Taju, spoke of her shock and disbelief at her parents home in Blackburn.
She said her father, Altaf Taju, had driven to London to be with his sister as they received updates about the crash from Air India and government officials. − BBC
