The Brits feared dead after the Air India plane crash include an influencer couple, a family of three, and an award-winning hotel manager who was travelling with his wife and two children
CCTV shows Air India plane taking off and crashing moments after
A devastating plane crash in India has claimed the lives of more than 200 people, with just one survivor confirmed so far. The Gatwick-bound Air India Flight 171 came down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat, crashing into the densely populated Meghani area at around 1.40pm local time.
On board were 242 passengers, including 53 Brits. Authorities fear all but one have died. Among those believed to have perished are a family of three, a wellness influencer couple, and an award-winning hotel manager who had travelled to India with his wife and two children. Akeel Nanawaba, 36, his partner Hanna Vorajee, 30, and their four-year-old daughter, Sarah were returning home from a five-day family celebration.
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Akeel and Hanna ran a successful global recruitment business with offices in Gloucester and Ahmedabad. Their friend and business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori said: “I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people.”
Struggling to speak about young Sarah, he added: “They were here to celebrate a family festival and to spend some time with Akeel’s father. Akeel was a really good man, I’m in shock.”
Another British family on board were hotel manager Javed Ali Syed, his wife Mariam, and their children Amani, four, and Zayn. Mr Syed had earned recognition in his field, winning a Team Member of the Year award at the Comfort Inn London in Westminster in 2017. Most recently, he worked at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel.
Also feared dead are Raxa Modha, 55, her two-year-old grandson Rudra, and daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar. Mrs Modha had spent several months in India caring for her terminally ill husband Kishor, who had wished to spend his final days in his homeland. The family, originally from Northamptonshire, were flying back to the UK following his recent death.
A family friend said: “It’s incredibly sad, the whole family is already grieving Kishor’s death.”
Wellness influencers Fiongal and husband Jamie Greenlaw-Meek were confirmed to be on the flight by friends via social media. Meek, 45, and Greenlaw, 39, based in London, co-founded the Wellness Foundry, a company promoting holistic living.
The couple had been on a holiday in India and had previously made appearances on ITV’s This Morning to showcase their wellness brand – and posted a video from Ahmedabad airport just moments before boarding the ill-fated plane.
The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was seated in 11A. He has lived in London for 20 years and was travelling with his brother Ajay, who is still unaccounted for.