Heartbreak in Manipur has taken a deeply personal form this week, as the family of 20-year-old Air India cabin crew member Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma struggles to process her tragic death in the Ahmedabad plane crash.
On June 12, 2025, flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport. The disaster claimed 241 lives onboard and at least 28 more on the ground, making it one of the worst aviation tragedies in India’s recent history.
Final Words Before Takeoff
Nganthoi’s last message to her cousin was brief but filled with excitement:
“I’m going to London. In a few minutes, we’ll take off. We may not be able to talk for a while.”
These words, once filled with hope, now echo with grief in the Sharma household in Thoubal district, Manipur.
When news of the crash broke, her family tried calling her repeatedly. “Her phone kept ringing, and the internet was still on,” recalled her cousin Khenjita. “We were scared but hopeful.” Eventually, the reality set in—Nganthoi was among the victims of the devastating crash.
A Promising Career Cut Short
Nganthoi had joined Air India in 2022 through recruitment in Imphal. Based in Mumbai, she had recently begun flying on international routes—a dream come true for the young woman who was also pursuing her undergraduate degree.
As the middle child of three sisters, Nganthoi was the pride of her family. Her eldest sister works in education, while the youngest is still a student. Her parents, relatives, and neighbors remember her as kind, ambitious, and full of life.
The tragic news has brought heartbreak in Manipur, a state already weighed down by conflict and unrest. But this time, the heartbreak in Manipur runs deeper, cutting across ethnic and regional lines. Communities once divided have come together in shared mourning, reflecting how one young woman’s story has touched an entire state.
The Crash and Its Impact
Flight AI 171 took off at 1:38 PM from Ahmedabad but never gained sufficient altitude. Moments later, it crashed into a student hostel adjacent to BJ Medical College, triggering a massive explosion and fire. The lone survivor was a British national seated near the emergency exit; everyone else perished, adding to the heartbreak in Manipur and across the country.
Footage from the crash shows the aircraft stalling mid-air before descending into a densely populated area. Rescue efforts were hampered by fire, smoke, and the extent of the damage. Bodies were recovered throughout the night, with grief-stricken families, including those facing heartbreak in Manipur, waiting anxiously for identification updates.
Investigators have retrieved the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. Experts are examining possible causes, including mechanical failure or human error, though no conclusions have been drawn yet.
Grief Across Divides
The story of Nganthoi Sharma has resonated far beyond Manipur. She was not the only one from the region on that flight—another cabin crew member from the Kuki community, Lamnunthem Singson, was also on board. In a state long divided along ethnic lines, both communities offered joint prayers for the victims.
This collective sorrow is a rare but moving sight in Manipur. Despite ongoing unrest, heartbreak in Manipur is being shared, not divided. Social media, local churches, and community centers have held vigils, and photos of the young women have circulated widely, reminding everyone of the human cost behind such headlines.
The Road Ahead
Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are working with Boeing and international experts to determine what went wrong. Compensation and psychological support are being extended to the victims’ families, and a special relief flight was dispatched to Ahmedabad for next-of-kin.
For the Sharma family, however, no explanation or compensation can fill the void left behind. Nganthoi’s mother was inconsolable when her daughter’s ID was confirmed among the dead. Her father has remained silent, clutching her photograph.
This tragedy has left a scar that won’t heal easily. While the nation mourns the horrific scale of the Ahmedabad crash, it is in homes like that of the Sharma family where the pain runs deepest. Heartbreak in Manipur is more than a phrase—it is a living, breathing sorrow carried by those who have lost more than the world can see. From the hills of Thoubal to the silent streets of Imphal, heartbreak in Manipur now echoes through every home touched by Nganthoi’s memory.
As investigations continue and the country seeks accountability, Nganthoi’s name stands as a reminder of the lives cut short—not just passengers on a doomed flight, but dreams never lived, conversations never finished, and journeys that ended too soon. In the midst of national mourning, heartbreak in Manipur will remain etched into the heart of a grieving state for years to come.
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