It’s only been a couple of days since the Air India crash, and more and more stories are coming out about the people who were on board.
The flight had 241 people when it crashed. Only one person survived.
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Sadly, the crash didn’t just affect passengers. People on the ground were caught up in it too. As of June 15, the total death count is 274, including 29 people who were on the ground, according to Sky News.
Arjun just wanted to do something for his wife
One of the people who died on the plane was Arjun Patoliya, a 37-year-old man from the UK.
He had flown to India to carry out his wife Bharti’s last wish. She passed away just two weeks earlier after fighting cancer, and she wanted her ashes scattered in Gujarat, where she grew up.
Two daughters now face life alone
Now, the Patoliya family is going through a second heartbreak. Arjun didn’t make it back from India.
He died in the crash on his way home, leaving behind their two daughters. They’re only four and eight years old.
It all happened in just over two weeks
“In a span of just 18 days, two young sisters — only 4 and 8 years old — have lost both of their beloved parents,” the heartbreaking bio of the fundraiser reads.
The mother’s final wish becomes the father’s last journey
“Their mother, Bharti Patoliya, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Fulfilling her final wish, her husband, Arjun Patoliya, travelled to India to scatter her ashes in her homeland in Gujarat.
But on his journey home to their daughters, tragedy struck again. Arjun was among those lost in the Air India Flight Tragedy in June 2025, shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad.
“Arjun left to bid farewell to his wife, never returned to the children they both raised. Now, these two beautiful young girls have been left without parents — their world turned upside down in just over two weeks.”
A fundraiser was launched to help the girls
After the tragedy, a GoFundMe page was started to raise money for the girls’ future.
The fundraiser’s goal is £500,000 [$678,250], and the plan is for all of it to go into a legal trust or to whoever becomes the girls’ guardian. That way, every bit of the money is used for their needs.
So far, that goal has been surpassed, with £520,141 already raised. Some people have donated thousands. One person, who chose to stay anonymous, gave £5,000.
Truly, the power of community is beautiful. Here’s hoping the young girls find comfort and healing.