What was meant to be a joyous occasion for a young Gujarati couple turned into unimaginable tragedy when Vaibhav Patel, 29, and his seven-month pregnant wife, Jinal Goswami, 27, were killed in the Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. The couple had flown in from London to celebrate their baby shower with family and friends in their hometown, but their lives were cut short in what is now the deadliest aviation disaster worldwide in a decade.
Vaibhav and Jinal had recently moved to Croydon, London, after living in Southampton where Vaibhav worked. They were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child. “They were so excited for this trip. We had talked about their plans just a few days ago,” said their close friend Nirav Patel in a BBC interview. He added, “The couple were in Ahmedabad to celebrate their own baby shower. It was on the 5 June. She was seven months pregnant. They were very happy. Vaibhav did not have a father, so he was the big son supporting the family back in India.”
Nirav, who had known Vaibhav for over ten years, described him as generous, thoughtful, and deeply devoted to his family.
The couple’s funeral was held in Ahmedabad on Monday, with grieving relatives and friends gathering to pay their last respects.
The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed seconds after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 of the 242 onboard and at least 30 people on the ground. The plane had lost altitude just 17 seconds after liftoff and slammed into a medical college hostel, claiming the lives of students and staff.
Among the deceased were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. The only survivor was 40-year-old British businessman Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who was seated near an emergency exit. He survived with serious injuries, while his brother Ajay, sitting beside him, perished in the crash.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves across India and the UK, leaving behind families shattered and a community in mourning.