In a heartbreaking turn of events, Dr. Pratik Joshi and his wife, Dr. Komi Vyas, along with their three young children, lost their lives in one of India's deadliest aviation disasters.
The family, on board Air India flight AI-171, was headed for a new life in London when their plane tragically crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
Before the calamity struck, Dr. Joshi, a respected physician in London, and Dr. Vyas, a prominent doctor in Udaipur, shared a joyous selfie on social media.
In the photo, the couple smiled brightly, surrounded by their twin boys, Nakul and Pradyut, aged five, and their eight-year-old daughter, Miraya. The image captured their excitement for their new journey ahead.
Less than an hour later, the Boeing 787-8, bound for London, crashed into a medical college complex and exploded into flames, claiming the lives of 265 people. The tragedy has left their relatives, colleagues, and the local community in shock.
Dr. Joshi had been living in London for six years, building a career and laying the foundation for a future with his family.
His wife, Dr. Vyas, had resigned from her position at Pacific Hospital in Udaipur just two days before the trip to reunite with her husband and children in the UK.
The family was excited to start their new life, with their children looking forward to the opportunities London would offer.
“It's devastating,” said a close family friend. “They were such a warm, aspirational couple. The whole town is in shock. They wanted the best for their kids and had big dreams for the future."
The crash occurred shortly after the aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday morning. Authorities say that the plane crashed into the residential area of the complex, adding to the horror of the situation. The impact killed 241 of the 242 people on board.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has pledged to send a team to India to assist with the investigation, as the tragedy remains one of the country's worst aviation disasters.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ