Suresh Mistry had come to drop his daughter, Kinal, at the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday. Having completed dental treatment related to an accident she had suffered a year ago, Kinal was due to return to the UK, where she had been living on a work permit, but little did she or her family members know; they would never see her again.
After dropping Kinal at the airport, her parents were driving back to Anand, when they got a message that a plane had crashed and that they should turn back.
Kinal had been one among 241 other passengers and crew on board the Air India flight AI 171 to London's Gatwick airport. Minutes after taking off, the flight crashed into a hostel housing BJ Medical College students.
For Kinal's father and mother, as well as her father-in-law, Chandrakant Patel, who had also come to see her off, their goodbyes at the airport proved to be their last with Kinal.
With bodies charred beyond recognition in the crash, authorities have now begun DNA testing to identify the victims, so that their remains can be handed over to their relatives.
"Kinal was just about 23 and was to go back to the UK having completed her medical treatment. But, her flight only made it a few kilometers before crashing. Now, they have taken DNA samples and the results will come after 72 hours. So, we can only wait," said Patel.
Kinal's husband was to travel from London following this tragedy, but Israel's attack on Iran has disrupted flight schedules, due to which he has had to postpone his visit too.
Syed Javed Ali and his family
Syed Javed Ali had travelled to Mumbai from the UK, along with his wife and two children, to meet his mother, who had only recently undergone a heart surgery. They had also been on the flight back to London, which also unfortunately proved to be their last.
Syed's aunt was at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on Friday, frantically waiting for some news. She too will have to wait agonisingly for upto 72 hours for the DNA results to come, before the bodies—or what ever remains of them—can be handed over.
2-year-old Aadya
Authorities at the Civil Hospital (just a few minutes from the crash site) are now busy collecting DNA samples of all the relatives. Inside that room, the mother of two-year old Aadya is inconsolable.
Aadya had been with her grandmother Sarlaben in the BJ Medical College mess when the plane crashed, and have been missing since. The family worked in the mess, and were desperately searching for answers from the authorities on their whereabouts, but there was no word. All they could do was wait, hoping for some news.
Sitaben and Akash Patani
Near the crash site, 76-year-old Babiben Patani can only stare at the spot where a tea shop once stood. Her daughter-in-law, Sitaben, used to run the tea stall outside the BJ Medical students' hostel. On the fateful day, while she was making tea, her 15-year-old Akash Patani was sleeping nearby when the plane crashed. Babiben's daughter-in-law suffered burns and is undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital, while her grandson Akash died on the spot.
"The plane crashed and it was like a blast right there, where my grandson was sleeping. My daughter-in-law ran, but Akash was burnt alive," said Babiben, tears rolling down here eyes.
The tragedy
The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had been carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board, which included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portugese and 1 Canadian. Only one passenger miraculously survived. Now, it lies wrecked to bits: shattering the dreams of hundreds of the people on board and on the ground.
On Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the crash site. Air India's MD and CEO Campbell Wilson also visited the crash site, but did not speak with the media.
Throughout the day, NDRF and police teams have also been working at the crash site. Forensic teams have also been present.
The cause of the crash still remains a mystery. Video footage only showed that the flight took off at 1:38 PM, but crashed soon after it failed to attain the desired thrust.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will now conduct an investigation into the crash.
Boeing's CEO Kelly Ortberg has said that he had spoken to Air India chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer full support and that a Boeing team would be ready to support the investigation led by AAIB.
One of the black boxes is learnt to have been found. Its inspection should provide clues on the final few minutes of the flight.
However, for those who lost their loved ones, there remains a void that can never be filled.