On Thursday afternoon, a devastating air tragedy struck when Air India Flight AI171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, carrying 242 individuals, including 232 passengers and 12 crew members. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft went down in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area shortly after takeoff. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, while search and rescue efforts remain underway.

Among the 12 crew members feared dead were two young women from Manipur: Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, a native of Thoubal district, and Singson Lamnunthem, originally from Old Lambulane in Imphal West. Lamnunthem had been displaced to Kangpokpi district due to the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur that has gripped the state since May 2023. This long-standing conflict has claimed over 250 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people, adding a deeper emotional layer to the current tragedy.

The news of the crash has sent shockwaves through Manipur, already reeling from violence and instability. At Lamnunthem’s temporary home in Kangpokpi, grief and anxiety dominate the atmosphere. Her mother, Nemneilhing Singson, still holds on to hope, recounting her last phone call with her daughter just a day prior. Lamnunthem, the only daughter in a family of three children, had lost her father years ago. Her mother had raised the family under challenging circumstances and now faces the agonizing uncertainty of her daughter’s fate.

Family members and neighbors gathered to support Nemneilhing, as tension and sorrow hung heavily in the household. Goulun Singson, a relative of Lamnunthem, revealed that the family last spoke with her on Wednesday, just before her flight. She had joined Air India as a cabin crew member in 2023 after being displaced by the ethnic violence in Imphal.

At the home of Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma in Thoubal, the grief was equally overwhelming. Family members, too distraught to speak publicly, declined media interviews. Local MLA Surjakumar Okram visited the family and stated that official confirmation was still awaited. He assured the family that coordination with Air India and relevant authorities was ongoing to gather more details.

Former Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, expressed his deep condolences on social media, calling the crash a national tragedy. He extended his prayers to all the victims and their families, noting the nation’s collective grief over the incident.

An official statement from Air India confirmed the presence of 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens on board. Two infants were also among the passengers. The airline said it was making full use of available medical and emergency services and was cooperating with the DGCA for a detailed investigation.

As the nation awaits further updates, the fate of the two Manipur women, along with many others on the ill-fated flight, remains uncertain. Authorities have yet to release a confirmed list of survivors or casualties. Further details on the crash and passenger conditions are expected as investigations progress.