23/10/2025
On the morning of June 12, 2025, as Air India Flight AI171 prepared for its journey from Ahmedabad to London, two young women from Manipur took their positions as proud members of the cabin crew. They were more than professionals; they were dreamers carrying the hopes of their families, their communities, and their homeland.
Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, only 21 years old, came from Thoubal district. A daughter, a sister, and a vibrant young woman with a smile that could calm even the most nervous traveler. She had grown up watching planes soar across the sky, and with determination, she chose to dedicate her life to the skies. Nganthoi represented the dreams of countless youths from Manipur who strive to make their mark beyond the boundaries of their land.
Lamnunthem Singson, 28, was from Kangpokpi, belonging to the Kuki community. Her journey was not easy. Displaced by the ethnic strife that had scarred her home state, she carried within her the pain of loss but also the strength of survival. Joining Air India in 2024 was more than just a job for herโit was a statement of resilience, a leap of faith that proved no matter the hardships, dreams can still take flight.
When tragedy struck that morning, the world saw two lives cut short, but Manipur saw something deeper: two communities that had been painfully divided came together in grief. In mourning Nganthoi and Lamnunthem, the Meitei and Kuki people stood side by side. Bound by shared tears, they were reminded that humanity is greater than division, and love is stronger than hate.
Their legacy is not only in the uniforms they wore, nor the duties they carried out on that fateful flight. It lives on in the unity their passing inspired, in the dreams of young Manipuri boys and girls who will look up at the sky and see not just airplanes, but possibilities.
Though the crash of AI171 silenced their voices, it could not silence their light. Their story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, courage, love, and unity can rise above the clouds.
๐ธ Rest in peace, Nganthoi and Lamnunthem. Your journey continues in the hearts youโve touched. ๐ธ