Manipur is in mourning after two of its young professionals lost their lives in the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Thursday. The crash, one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history, has left the families of the deceased flight attendants shattered.
Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma and Lamnunthem Singson, both in their early 20s, were working as flight attendants with the Tata-owned airline. Their vibrant futures were cut short when the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport.
Nganthoi Sharma hailed from Thoubal district. She joined Air India in April 2023 after being selected through campus recruitment at DM College of Commerce in Imphal. A second daughter among three sisters, Nganthoi had long nurtured the dream of flying.
“It was her dream to become a flight attendant,” said her elder sister, Gitanjali. “She messaged me while I was in school, telling me she was flying to London and would be unreachable due to the internet ban. She said she would return on June 15. I wished her a safe flight. Then we heard about the crash from an aunt, who said an Air India flight had crashed in Ahmedabad. It was going to London. That’s how we confirmed it.”
Nganthoi’s parents, K Nandeshkumar and his wife, are in a state of shock and unable to speak. The family, like many others in the valley, had been coping with intermittent internet shutdowns after protests broke out last week over the arrest of a member of the Arambai Tenggol group.
“She cracked the airline job in her very first attempt,” Gitanjali said. “She was so happy thinking about all the places she would get to visit.”
A displaced family faces a new tragedy
In Kangpokpi district, the grief was equally profound. Lamnunthem Singson’s family had been living as internally displaced persons since May 2023, after being forced to leave their home in Old Lambulane, Imphal, due to ethnic violence. The family now resides in a small rented house in Ngambom Veng, Kangpokpi. As news of the crash broke, friends, neighbours, and members of the local community gathered at their home to grieve with Lamnunthem’s mother, Nemneilhing Singson.
“She told me just yesterday that she was travelling to Ahmedabad to report for duty,” said Nemneilhing, her voice tinged with sorrow and a flicker of hope that perhaps the news was mistaken.
Lamnunthem was the only daughter among three siblings. Her father, Lenminlun Singson, passed away years ago, and her mother has been raising the children alone. Lamnunthem had recently joined Air India in 2024 as cabin crew. Today, surrounded by an outpouring of love and prayers, Nemneilhing sat in silent agony, comforted by a community that shared her grief.
The Thadou Students' Association General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ) issued a heartfelt statement mourning the loss of both young women. “Lamnunthem Singson… recently joined Air India as cabin crew in 2024, and her untimely death is a great loss to her family and the Thadou community,” the statement said. “TSA extends heartfelt condolences to both bereaved families and assures all necessary assistance during this difficult time.”
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The Crash: One of India’s Worst Aviation Disasters
The Air India Dreamliner, carrying 242 people — 232 passengers and 10 crew members — crashed shortly after takeoff at 1:38 PM. The aircraft was headed to London and was fully loaded with fuel for the long-haul flight. Just minutes after departure, the pilot issued a mayday call. No response followed despite repeated attempts by air traffic control.
Videos and CCTV footage revealed the aircraft flying unusually low and struggling to gain altitude before crashing in a massive fireball. The plane slammed into a hostel for doctors at a nearby medical college, killing several students. Debris pierced the dining hall, with uneaten meals still on the plates — a chilling reminder of the abruptness of the tragedy.
Miraculously, one passenger — an Indian-origin British national seated at 11A — survived the crash. As rescue efforts continue and investigations unfold, Manipur grieves the loss of two young women who had only just begun their professional journeys. Their dreams, once sky-bound, now rest in the hearts of the people they leave behind.
Also Read: 265 bodies recovered so far, PM may visit crash site soon
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