A young couple from Croydon, including a pregnant woman, have been confirmed among the victims of the Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, India.
Vaibhav Patel, 29, and Jinal Goswami, 27—who was seven months pregnant—were flying home to the UK after attending a family baby shower in Gujarat when the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a residential area of Meghani Nagar shortly after takeoff on Thursday, 12 June.
The couple had recently moved to Croydon from Southampton, and were described by friends as “excited and full of plans for the future.” Their funeral was held on Monday.
Only One Survivor from 242 On Board
The doomed flight had 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. Just one person, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, is confirmed to have survived.
The death toll continues to rise as recovery teams search through wreckage and debris. Over 30 bodies have now been recovered.
Local Community in Mourning
The Croydon Business Association issued a statement over the weekend, expressing condolences and support:
“This devastating incident has profoundly affected the victims, their families and the wider community. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families who have tragically lost their loved ones, and all individuals impacted by this heartbreaking event.”
British Government Assistance
The UK Foreign Office has launched a dedicated consular helpline for those concerned about friends or relatives on board:
020 7008 5000
Investigations into the crash are ongoing, with authorities reviewing the plane’s black boxes, pilot history, and possible technical or overloading issues.
