A dark cloud loomed over India on Thursday after an Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad¡¯s airport. As the country grappled with the horrifying news, major events in the entertainment industry were pulled back, including those involving Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and South actor Vishnu Manchu.
The Bhaijaan of Bollywood was all set to unveil his association with the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) at a Mumbai press meet alongside ISRL co-founders Veer Patel and Ishan Lokhande. However, the event was promptly scrapped hours after the tragic incident came to light.
The ISRL team addressed the media with a sombre note, stating that the organisation, along with Salman Khan, stands united with the nation in mourning. They emphasised the decision to postpone the event was made with full responsibility and empathy for the affected families.
In a similar gesture, actor Vishnu Manchu pulled the plug on the pre-release event for his mythological epic Kannappa, originally set for 13 June in Indore. The trailer drop was deferred by a day, out of respect for those affected by the crash.
?Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vishnu shared his heartbreak over the lives lost and explained that both the event and the trailer release had been postponed to honour the memory of the victims. The actor urged fans to join him in prayers for the families enduring such unfathomable loss.
Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 bound for London Gatwick, crashed minutes after departure from Ahmedabad at 13:38 hours. The aircraft was carrying 242 passengers and crew, including nationals from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada. Air India has launched an investigation and set up a helpline for families of the victims.
As India reels from this aviation catastrophe, celebrities and citizens alike have come together in a rare moment of unified grief, setting aside promotions and performances to mourn collectively.