Air India flight AI171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after take-off, killing more than 270 people and sending shockwaves across the globe.
Among those grieving a loved one is Sydney-based Yogita Patel, whose sister-in-law, Rupal Patel, was one of the victims on board the ill-fated flight to London Gatwick Airport.
Speaking to SBS Gujarati, Yogita recounted the moment she learned about the disaster.
"I was working overtime when I saw a message on social media about a plane crash. Initially, I ignored it. But then I received another message in a different group and realised it was serious," she said.
It was only then that Yogita discovered the crash involved the same flight Rupal had boarded.
"I immediately called my brother. He cried out loud and said, ‘Rupal is gone,’ and then hung up."
Desperate for answers, Yogita turned to news channels and reached out to relatives, who confirmed the news.
Final conversation
Yogita remembered her final phone call with Rupal. It was a short conversation in which Rupal mentioned she was at the bank and would call back later — a call that never came.
According to Yogita, Rupal had travelled to India just a week earlier for a follow-up medical check-up following surgery in the UK.
My brother asked me to tell Rupal to go back to India for another check-up to help with her recovery. She took my advice and went — but just five days later, she was gone.Yogita Patel
University of Wollongong India Campus employee among the victims
Kalyani Brahmbhatt, an administrative officer at the University of Wollongong’s India campus, also lost her life in the crash. Her husband, Gaurav, was with her.
In a statement to SBS Gujarati, a university spokesperson expressed deep sorrow:
The University of Wollongong is deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague Kalyani Brahmbhatt, and her husband Gaurav, in the Air India crash on June 12.Spokesperson, University of Wollongong
"A deeply respected and much-loved member of our UOW India community, Kalyani will be dearly missed. Kalyani was one of the first to join UOW India’s team where she played an instrumental role in helping to set up the campus," the university said in a statement.
"Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with all those affected by this tragedy, especially to Kalyani and Gaurav’s daughter and son and their families, as well as to our colleagues at UOW India."
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