Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Elderly Couple's First Flight Ends In Tragedy

Last Updated:June 13, 2025, 18:14 IST

Mahadevbhai and Ashaben Pawar's first flight to visit their son in the UK ended in tragedy with the Air India crash, leaving 17 families in Kheda grieving

Mahadevbhai and Ashaben had embarked on this long-awaited journey after months of planning. (News18 Gujarati)

What should have been a joyous first for Mahadevbhai Tukaram Pawar and his wife Ashaben, boarding a flight to visit their son in the UK, turned into a haunting final chapter in their lives. The elderly couple from Saraswati Nagar, Nadiad in Gujarat’s Kheda district had never flown before. Their hearts were full of excitement and anticipation as they took selfies at the airport and shared a video call with their son moments before takeoff. But within minutes of the Air India flight departing from Ahmedabad for London, their fate, and that of many others, was sealed in catastrophe.

The Air India plane crash, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history, left a devastating scar on Kheda. Over 17 families from the district are grappling with irreparable loss as they await news of their loved ones, many of whose bodies were charred beyond recognition.

Mahadevbhai and Ashaben had embarked on this long-awaited journey after months of planning. For their family, the trip was meant to reunite generations, bridging the distance between Gujarat and the UK. Instead, their departure has left behind only silence and grief.

Their nephew, Maheshbhai, recalled the horror that unfolded after the initial news of the crash broke. “We rushed to Ahmedabad the moment we heard. Hospitals were in chaos, and samples were being taken for DNA testing," he said, barely holding back tears.

The family has pleaded with authorities not to rush the handover of bodies just for the sake of timelines. “Even if it takes longer than 72 hours, we just want their remains back in full and in a proper manner. That’s not just my feeling, it’s the feeling of our entire family," Maheshbhai added.

The couple’s son, speaking from the UK, shared a heartbreaking message, saying, “It feels like my father’s phone is still ringing. The photos from the airport… that’s all we have left now."

News18 reporters who visited the family home described scenes of overwhelming grief and disbelief, as relatives tried to make sense of the sudden and senseless tragedy.

The crash not only killed passengers and crew on board but also claimed lives on the ground where the debris fell. Officials have confirmed that the total death toll has significantly increased, although the exact number is still being verified.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. Aviation experts are analysing black box data and other evidence to determine what led to the sudden and deadly descent.

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