Mourning has swept through the family of Irfan Shaikh, a cabin crew member who was one of the victims of the Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad. His uncle, speaking through his tears, described Irfan as a “bright, ambitious young man with big ambitions” who had always wanted to travel around the world and bring honour to his family. “His dreams have been shattered,” he said, “and so have ours.”
The 28-year-old flight attendant was one of the 265 victims of the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed a few minutes before its scheduled departure to London. His relatives, like most others, are now waiting anxiously for DNA verification to receive his remains. “We had only talked to him the day before,” his mother explained. “He sounded happy and full of life.
Family members, friends, and neighbors assembled at the family residence in Mumbai, praying and providing support. The atmosphere was somber with grief and shock, as everyone reminisced about Irfan’s generosity, self-discipline, and passion for flying. “He was the first from our family to don a uniform and fly overseas,” his cousin explained. “We were so proud.
Air India authorities have assured the widows of the deceased families with support in the form of counseling and compensation. An Air India team has also been tasked with the identification process. The family has no choice but to hold on to memories, photographs, and the grief-filled silence of something that will never be.
