Tragic Loss: Air India Flight Accident Claims Life of Young Crew Member from Manipur

A Heartbreaking Incident in Ahmedabad

In a tragic incident in Ahmedabad, one of the two crew members from Manipur who lost their lives in an Air India plane crash was 26-year-old Lamnunthem Singson. She was the sole breadwinner for her family, which has already faced the harsh realities of ethnic violence in the northeastern state.

A relative of Singson shared that she last spoke to her widowed mother on June 11. During that call, she mentioned her upcoming flight to London on Thursday and expressed her desire to sleep early that night.

Singson's brother, Lun Kipgen, revealed that she was the third child among four siblings and the only daughter. Their widowed mother had struggled immensely to raise them all.

Family's Struggles and Shock

Kipgen noted that Singson was the family's only earning member. Her eldest brother is unemployed and battling a serious illness, while the other two siblings are still in school. Despite his health issues, the eldest brother has already set off for Ahmedabad, while another brother and a relative are traveling from Kangpokpi to Dimapur in Nagaland before heading to Ahmedabad.

The family is in shock, with Kipgen stating, "We are devastated by this news. Their mother is in deep distress and has not eaten since hearing about the accident."

Details of the Flight Incident

According to Kipgen, Air India officials contacted Singson's family late Thursday night to inform them that her body had not yet been identified. Singson was among the 242 passengers on Air India flight AI 171, which crashed just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon.

He added that Singson had spoken to her mother around 11 PM on Wednesday, indicating her plans to fly to London the next day and her need to rest early to be on time for her duty.

A Family Torn Apart by Violence

Singson and her mother regularly prayed together over the phone before bedtime. A relative mentioned that Singson belonged to the Kuki community, whose members had to flee their homes during ethnic violence in the northeastern region.

Kipgen explained that the family, including three brothers, had to leave their home in Imphal due to ethnic conflict and are currently residing in a rented house in Kangpokpi district.