Arjun Patolia — an Indian-origin London-based man, father of two — lost his life in the devastating Air India Ahmedabad plane crash just moments after fulfilling a deeply personal promise. He had traveled to India to perform the final rites, honoring the dying wish of his late wife, who had always urged him to stay connected to his roots and family traditions.
Arjun Patolia’s Heartwrenching Journey
One of the most heartbreaking aviation tragedies happened, the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday claimed the lives of around 265 people, including a 36-year-old Indian origin Arjun Manubhai Patolia, who lived in the UK.
To fulfill his late wife Bharatiben’s last request, Arjun Patolia traveled from the UK to Gujarat in Amreli district’s Vadiya village and immersed her ashes in the river. A week before, his wife had died due to cancer in London.
Her last request was that her ashes be immersed in her native village, something Arjun Patolia honored with devotion, carrying her floral urn and performing the rituals alongside extended family. Patolia was scheduled to travel home to his two kids, aged four and eight, who had remained in the UK after finishing burial rites with relatives in Vadiya. Patolia boarded an Air India flight bound for Gatwick Airport in London on Thursday. Then tragedy happened.
Arjun’s nephew, Krish Jagdish Patolia, said, “He had a ticket for Air India Flight AI171. He was intending to go to London, but the accident happened.”
Krish said, “It’s heartbreaking. We have lost both of them in one week.”
The Boeing 787-8 was carrying 242 passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals.
On Thursday afternoon, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick. The solitary survivor of the accident is an Indian-origin Britisher who is undergoing medical care at a hospital. Ramesh Viswashkumar, the only survivor, was seated in seat 11A, near an emergency exit.
PM Modi Met The Lone Survivor Of The Ahmedabad Plane Crash
PM Modi visited the crash site and met the injured at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on Friday in one of the worst aviation disasters in the country and the world’s first involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The flight departed at 1:38 pm local time. He met Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the Ahmedabad plane crash.
According to DGCA, the aircraft sent out a Mayday call shortly after takeoff, signifying a grave emergency. So far, five victims have been identified and their bodies returned to their families. A team of 70 to 80 doctors has been deployed to perform post-mortem examinations.
Investigators are still looking into the cause of the crash. Forensic teams are on the scene, and the aviation authorities are conducting a formal investigation. Air India has not published a comment regarding the particular cause but has noted that affected families are receiving immediate help.
On Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at the Ahmedabad airport and headed to the Air India plane crash site. During the 20-minute inspection, he was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Civil Aviation Minister K R Naidu, among others.
The Air India Dreamliner tragedy has not only raised urgent questions about aviation safety but has also left behind families like the Patolias, shattered, robbed of their loved ones without a chance to say goodbye. For Arjun Manubhai Patolia, what began as a journey of love and duty ended in unspeakable loss. In just one week, his children lost both parents — their mother and their father to a disaster that has shaken the world.
Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | X |
Youtube | Pinterest | Google News |
Entertales is on YouTube; click here to subscribe for the latest videos and updates.
