Mumbai News: Air India Staff Hold Memorial Service In Bandra For AI 171 Crash Crew

Air India employees and former staff members of the airline attended a prayer service at St Peter's Church, Bandra, on Saturday morning to honour the memory of the crew who lost their lives in the crash of Air India flight AI 171 on June 12 in Ahmedabad.

The one-and-a-half-hour service, attended by nearly 500, began at 8:00 am. A poster with the images of the 12 crew members who lost their lives in the crash was carried into the church as the choir sang 'Just a closer walk with thee'. The religious ceremonies, which Father Ivan Dsouza led, included the 'prayer for the faithful' and special intention prayers dedicated to the crew. The service ended with the choir singing 'How great thou art'.

Captain Kevin Paul, who flies for Air India, traveled from his residence in Kandivali to attend the service. He had just commandeered a flight the previous night. "When there is a tragedy, sharing your grief helps. It shows the grieving family that they are not alone. We wanted to tell the family we are there for them," said Paul, who has completed 35 years of service. 

Paul spoke at the ceremony as a representative of the pilot community. "It was nice to see so many retired Air India employees who still feel part of the airline," Paul added. 

Others who spoke at the service remembered the crew members who lost their lives in the line of duty. The family of Captain Kunder, the co-pilot who was on the flight, overwhelmed by their loss, did not speak at the service. Neil Pais, Bandra resident and a former cabin crew in-charge and manager of the inflight service department on the ground, who organised the service, described the ceremony as solemn. "It was a beautiful memorial month's mind mass and an even more touching heart-rending prayer service. Past and present Air Indians packed the hall. The special moment was remembering each crew member individually, accompanied by a somber gong," Pais recalled.

Pais said he flew the Dreamliner, including several trips with Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot of AI 171, and cabin supervisors Aparna Mahadik and Shraddha Dhavan, who were among the crew.

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