08/07/2025
It wasn't just one tragedy, but two - the airplane crash itself and then the plane crash on the BJ Medical College hostel, where medical students were in the middle of their lunch.
The loss feels even heavier knowing so many lives were affected in just a few minutes.
That flight was carrying so many dreams. I know how much effort, time, and mostly courage it takes to end one life and start a new life abroad.
Among the passengers on board was a 22-year-old old Khushboo from Rajasthan who got married this January. She was on her way to London to stay with her husband. It was supposed to be a new beginning for her. And in the next 14 days, it's her birthday according to her passport.
While she was leaving her home, everyone was crying, filled with so many emotions. Khusbhoo in fact arrived Ahmedabad on Wednesday night with her father and cousin. Her father took a last picture with her and set it as a WhatsApp Status.
Her father bid her a final goodbye and saw her for the last time. Being a father, he was relieved to see that finally his daughter would lead a beautiful life ahead.
While he was returning to Rajasthan, somewhere along the highway, a phone call came. Then another. At first, there was confusion - a crash? Could it be the same flight? Her father pulled the car over as the news began to come in through calls and messages. His hands trembled as he tried to make sense of what he was hearing. The same flight. The same number. AI171. Crashed just minutes after takeoff.
Shock took over. The photo he had proudly set as a WhatsApp Status just moments ago suddenly became too painful to look at.
What was supposed to be a joyful day, the day his daughter flew to join her husband and start a new chapter, turned into the darkest day of their lives.
And this is not just one dream that has shattered, many dreams were shattered in just an instant who were flying yesterday in that plane, who died while having lunch at BJ Medical College Hostel, and many more, including the pilots, the cabin crew, and the medical college staff.
Sometimes incidents like this show how fragile life is. I pray that god gives strength to all the families who lost their loved ones in the crash and I wish a speedy recovery to those who are injured.