Nganthoi, who perished in India’s deadliest air disaster in years, was identified through DNA testing. Her father’s criticism of Air India’s communication lapses has led to a public apology by the airline.
BY PC Bureau
June 22, 2025 — The mortal remains of 23-year-old Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam, a cabin crew member from Manipur who perished in the tragic Air India Flight AI-147 crash, were brought home on Sunday. Her identity was confirmed through DNA matching with her father, Kongbrailatpam Nandesh Kumar Sharma, bringing painful closure to her grieving family.
Nganthoi was among the crew aboard the ill-fated Air India flight en route to London, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. Only one passenger survived, making it one of India’s worst aviation disasters. She was one of two crew members from Manipur; the remains of the other, Lamnunthem Singson, were returned to Kangpokpi on June 20.
The mortal remains of Late Kongrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, one of the two brave Air India crew members from Manipur who tragically lost their lives in the Ahmedabad plane crash, reached Imphal today.#ahmedabadplancrash #airindiaplanecrash pic.twitter.com/q1fdPYbkoU
— BR Garg #IndianArmy (@BRGargSpeaks) June 22, 2025
Her casket arrived on IndiGo Flight 6E 5118 from Ahmedabad via Delhi at 1:10 PM. At Imphal International Airport, a solemn reception awaited—state officials, Air India staff, and security personnel stood in silence as floral tributes were paid to the young woman whose life was cut short in one of India’s worst aviation disasters.
After the airport ceremony, her coffin was placed on an open truck draped with white cloth and marigolds. The funeral procession to her home in Thoubal moved slowly through the city, greeted along the way by thousands of grieving citizens. Many stood with folded hands, others tossed flower petals or wept quietly as the convoy passed. It was a rare moment of communal solidarity in a region often marked by division.
In Thoubal, her home was filled with mourners—family members struggling to contain their grief, friends remembering her gentle nature, and local leaders paying tribute. Among those present were Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and MLA Surjakumar Okram, who joined in offering condolences to the bereaved family.
Senior government officials, including Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh and DGP Rajiv Singh, had earlier gathered at the airport alongside members of the Airport Authority and Air India staff to pay their respects. No words were spoken, but their presence conveyed the weight of the loss felt across Manipur and the nation.
Earlier, Nganthoi’s father had criticized Air India for its lack of direct communication, saying the family first learned of her death through social media. On Sunday, the airline issued a public apology and promised to improve its communication protocols. However, specific details about compensation for the victims’ families remain undisclosed.
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The tragic loss of Nganthoi, from the Meitei community, and Singson, from the Kuki community, has united Manipur’s often-divided ethnic groups in shared sorrow. Candlelight vigils in Imphal and Kangpokpi honored their memory, standing as symbols of solidarity amid grief. Nganthoi, who joined Air India in 2023, was remembered for her dedication, warmth, and vibrant spirit.
🚨 #Manipur embraces a homecoming filled with pain, grief, sense of loss.
The mortal remains of Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam, a cabin crew who lost her life in a tragic #AhmedabadPlaneCrash have reached Imphal.
Deepest condolences to the departed soul.pic.twitter.com/BI4kFnWAdi https://t.co/ytkhq3RolK— Kanglei Chronicle (@Tongjei_Maril) June 22, 2025
The crash has reignited calls for improved aviation safety standards in India. While initial investigations point to a possible technical fault, a full report from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is still awaited. The Manipur government has announced ₹5 lakh ex gratia for the families of both victims, along with promises of further support.
