Air India tragedy: Bihar mourns loss of cabin crew member Manisha Thapa

Manisha Thapa, a dedicated and accomplished cabin crew member with Air India, was among those who tragically lost their lives in the devastating crash of Flight AI171 on June 12.

The aircraft was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport and crashed into a residential building near Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff, killing at least 265 people.

It is now considered one of the deadliest aviation disasters in over a decade.

Originally from Bihar and a member of the Gorkha community, Manisha was widely admired for her perseverance and inspiring professional journey.

Born on Dec 21, she pursued a Bachelor of Business Economics from St Xavier's College of Management and Technology, Patna, between 2014 and 2017.

“She was a bright student, hardworking, enthusiastic, and actively participating in everything; she was a good dancer. The college pays condolences. There are no words that can truly ease the pain of losing someone so suddenly and so unfairly. Our thoughts and prayers are with our alumna Manisha and her loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time,” said Bela Stephen, office assistant at St Xavier’s College, Patna.

Manisha began her aviation career as ground staff at IndiGo Airlines before joining Akasa Air as cabin crew and later moving to Air India.

She served on several international flights, including those to London and Australia, and was seen as a rising figure among young professionals in the airline industry.

“The sudden and untimely departure of Manisha shook everyone. She was kind, humble, and supportive. She embodied patience, perseverance, dedication, and women's empowerment. Manisha achieved what she dreamt of in life. I never imagined that one day she would fly with her wings and never return to say a final goodbye. She will always be in our hearts,” said her friend Dev Kumar Devanshu.

The crash has deeply shaken the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site and the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on June 13, where he met with the sole survivor, 28-year-old Vishwaskumar Ramesh, and directed immediate relief and a full-scale investigation.

Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, has pledged ₹1 crore in compensation to each bereaved family, assured complete medical support for the injured, and promised assistance in rebuilding the damaged college infrastructure.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg extended heartfelt condolences and stated that a specialized technical team will collaborate with Indian officials in the crash investigation.

This incident marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011.