Filmmaker missing after Ahmedabad Air India plane crash; family submits DNA for identification
PTC Web Desk: The family of a missing Ahmedabad-based filmmaker fears the worst after he disappeared near the crash site of the deadly Air India Dreamliner tragedy last Thursday. In a desperate attempt to determine his fate, the family has submitted DNA samples to the authorities for identification purposes.
Mahesh Kalawadia, a resident of Naroda, had left home to meet a friend in the Law Garden area on the afternoon of the crash, according to his wife Hetal. That same day, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed into a medical college hostel just five minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing all 241 persons onboard and at least 29 on the ground. Many victims were burned beyond recognition, making DNA matching a critical tool for identifying bodies.
Recounting the events, Hetal Kalawadia said, "My husband called me at 1.14 pm to say his meeting had ended and he was heading home. But he never arrived. When I tried calling him, his phone was switched off."
Following a police investigation, the authorities informed the family that Mahesh’s mobile phone was last detected approximately 700 metre from the crash site. The device was turned off around 1.40 pm—just a minute after the ill-fated flight took off.
"What’s troubling is that he never takes that route to return home," Hetal said. "His scooter and phone are missing too. Given the circumstances and proximity to the crash site, we’ve handed over our DNA samples in case he was one of the ground victims."
The disappearance has added a painful layer to an already devastating incident. So far, officials have identified 47 victims through DNA testing, and 24 bodies have been returned to families. The identification process continues, with several families still waiting for news of their loved ones.
The Air India Flight 171 crash remains under investigation by a government-appointed panel, which is examining technical, maintenance, and operational factors that may have contributed to the disaster.
- With inputs from agencies
