Manipur Mourns: Two Young Cabin Crew Members Among Victims of Air India Crash

Hyderabad — In a devastating aviation tragedy, two young cabin crew members from Manipur — Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma (20) and Lamnunthem Singson (26) — were among those killed when the London-bound Air India Flight AI-171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying 242 people on board, including 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots.

Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh confirmed the deaths in a heartfelt message on social media. “It is heartbreaking to share that two young cabin crew members from Manipur, Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma and Lamnunthem Singson, were among those who lost their lives in today’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad,” he wrote on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

“Both were full of life, serving with dedication and pride. Their sudden passing is a huge loss for their families, friends, and for all of us back home. May their souls rest in peace, and may their loved ones find the strength to get through this unimaginable pain,” Singh added.

Sharma, who hailed from Thoubal district and belonged to the Meitei community, had joined Air India three years ago after being selected during a recruitment drive in Imphal. At the time, she was pursuing her undergraduate studies. She was based in Mumbai. Her final message to her family before take-off read: “I’m going to London. In a few minutes, we’ll take off. We may not be able to talk afterwards.”

Her family in Imphal grew increasingly anxious after the news of the crash. “We kept calling her, but there was no response. Her phone was still ringing, which gave us hope — but she never picked up,” said K. Khenjita, a close relative.

Singson, who belonged to the Thadou tribal community, was a resident of Kangpokpi district. Described as vibrant and committed to his profession, he too had aspired to build a career in aviation and had earned his place through sheer dedication.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla expressed his sorrow over the tragedy. In a message posted from the Raj Bhavan’s X handle, the Governor said, “The Hon’ble Governor of Manipur has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic and shocking incident of an aircraft crash that occurred during a flight from Ahmedabad to London. He has prayed to the Almighty for the speedy recovery of all those injured in this unfortunate mishap.”

Chief Ministers of all northeastern states, including Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Manik Saha (Tripura), Pema Khandu (Arunachal Pradesh), Conrad K. Sangma (Meghalaya), Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland), and Lalduhoma (Mizoram), took to social media to express their grief and extend condolences to the bereaved families.

The fatal crash has left families shattered and communities in mourning, particularly in the Northeast. Flight operations at Ahmedabad airport were temporarily halted following the accident but resumed a few hours later.

As the nation mourns, the memory of Sharma and Singson — two young professionals chasing their dreams — will remain etched in the hearts of the people of Manipur.