June 12, 2025, will forever remain in the minds of the people who lost their near and dear ones in the tragic plane crash. For the uninitiated, the Air India Flight AI171 crashed shortly after its takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The horrifying plane crash not only took away more than 265 innocent lives, but also left Gujarat’s Anand, the NRI district, in mourning. According to a report by NDTV, 33 people from Anand died in the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash. Among the 33 residents from Gujarat’s Anand, was an NRI couple, Monali Patel and her husband, Sunny Patel, who boarded the doomed flight and lost their lives.
Monali and Sunny were not supposed to board the ill-fated flight
The NRI couple, Monali Patel and her husband, Sunny Patel, had plans to go back to London a few days back and thus booked a flight for June 6, 2025. However, due to some personal reasons, the couple delayed their journey and booked the ill-fated plane of June 12, 2025, the Air India AI171 flight. Speaking with NDTV, a close relative of the couple, Jignesh Patel, who lives in Gana village, just 3kms away from Gujarat’s Anand, shared that Monali was undergoing medical treatment and Sunny had taken leave from his work in London in order to take care of his wife. Jignesh was quoted as saying:
“They had been here for the last two months. Monali was undergoing medical treatment. Sunny had taken time off from his business in London to be with her.”
Jignesh mentioned how Monali, whom he considered his own real sister, shared their updates while the couple was going through the check-in procedures. In fact, Monali also said ‘goodbye’ to Jignesh and his wife, without knowing it was their final goodbyes. According to a report by NDTV, Jignesh told the media that it was 11 am when Monali and Sunny completed the check-procedures at the Ahmedabad airport. In his words:
“She sent me a message at 1:20 pm. She told my wife that everything was cleared, all was well, and she gave us her blessings. Then she said goodbye.”
Monali Patel’s parents didn’t know about Monali and Sunny’s death
Speaking with NDTV, Jignesh also said that Monali’s parents, Mukesh Patel and Jayshree Patel, arrived in Ahmedabad from London immediately after they learned about the tragic incident. Jignesh said that both Mukesh and Jayshree were not informed about their daughter, Monali and their son-in-law, Sunny’s death and were told that the two are in ICU and are being treated. Jignesh mentioned that Monali and Sunny tied the knot seven years ago. Jignesh also shared that Monali’s mom, Jayshree, was in shock after hearing the horrifying news. Monali’s father also gave a DNA sample at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, and the family was told that the reports would come after 72 hours. Jignesh was quoted as saying:
“Monali’s mother was in shock. We didn’t tell her the full details at first. We said Monali and Sunny were in the ICU. We had to manage the news carefully.”
A heartfelt condolences to Monali and Sunny Patel’s family.
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