‘Forgive Me, Beta’: Air India Crew Member’s Mother Inconsolable As Mortal Remains Reach Juhu Home

Last Updated:June 17, 2025, 09:48 IST

Heart-wrenching scenes emerged as neighbours, friends, and family gathered in silence, many in tears, to bid farewell to the woman they lovingly knew as Pinky.

The crew member's mortal remains reached her home on Monday.

Dramatic visuals unfolded at Juhu Koliwada on Monday as the mortal remains of Saineeta Chakravarti, one of the crew members aboard Air India flight 171 that crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, were brought home. Heart-wrenching scenes emerged as neighbours, friends, and family gathered in silence, many in tears, to bid farewell to the woman they lovingly knew as Pinky, a kind, soft-spoken, and deeply grounded person.

The remains, charred beyond recognition, were identified through DNA testing, neighbours said.

Saineeta was the sole breadwinner in her immediate family of three. Her father, Abin Chakravarti, had gone to Ahmedabad to identify his daughter’s remains and carry out the tedious paperwork that followed.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Abin Chakravarti said the family was too distraught to travel initially, so they sent two of Saineeta’s cousins for the DNA sampling. However, due to the extensive paperwork required, he had to make the trip himself. Air India arranged two additional tickets — for him and an aide — and they flew to Ahmedabad two days ago. “We got a glimpse of the crash site. I can’t get the visuals out of my head. I haven’t had time to process the loss," he told HT.

According to Mid-Day, Lalit Sarkar, a long-time neighbour, said Saineeta’s remains were brought home at 11:30 am and the funeral was performed by 12:30 pm. The report added that the local community has been left deeply shaken, mourning the tragic loss of a woman remembered for her warmth, humility, and gentle nature.

The crash of Air India flight AI 171 occurred on June 12, shortly after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad Airport en route to London. The aircraft could not gain height after departure and crashed into a nearby hostel, resulting in a massive explosion and fire.

All 241 passengers and crew members on board were killed, along with more than 20 people on the ground. The tragedy has been described as one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent years.

Preliminary investigations suggest a possible technical failure shortly after takeoff, but a detailed inquiry is underway to determine the exact cause. The incident has sparked national mourning and raised urgent questions about aircraft safety protocols.

Abhro Banerjee

Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ...Read More

Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ...

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