Ahmedabad Plane Crash: British passenger’s final goodbye viral video becomes haunting reminder of lives lost: Watch

What was meant to be a serene farewell has now become an immortalised moment of tragedy. A video posted by British passenger Jamie Ray Meek, moments before boarding Air India Flight AI171, has become one of the last visible glimpses of life before the devastating Ahmedabad plane crash that killed all 242 onboard.

A peaceful farewell that turned into a tragedy

Meek, a yoga practitioner and director of The Wellness Foundry, had travelled across Gujarat with his partner Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek. Just hours before takeoff, the couple shared glimpses of their final night in Ahmedabad on Instagram, savouring a Gujarati thali and describing their experience as “magical.”

The next morning, Meek filmed a short farewell at the airport. In the video, both appeared calm, content, and reflective. He mentioned they were about to board a 10-hour flight back to London, expressing gratitude for the trip and even shared a personal lesson—“not to lose patience with your partner.” His words were light-hearted, filled with warmth, and tragically, final.

The flight that never made it

Air India Flight AI171 departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM, bound for London Gatwick. Just minutes later, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed in the Meghaninagar area, causing a massive blaze and reducing hopes to ash and rubble.

Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. None survived. Jamie and Fiongal were confirmed among the deceased. Air India has set up a helpline number (1800 5691 444) for grieving families.

Global leaders react

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the tragedy has left the nation “stunned and heartbroken,” as he ordered immediate relief efforts and dispatched senior ministers to Ahmedabad. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the crash “devastating” and assured ongoing updates and support.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that crisis response teams were active in Delhi and London. Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles III is being kept informed, and Russian President Vladimir Putin sent condolences, calling it a "deeply tragic" event.

As the world mourns, Jamie’s final words, once a gentle sign-off, have become an emotional symbol of the 242 voices that will never speak again.