Chandigarh, June 28, 2025: In a room filled with sorrow, the true spirit of the Air India Flight AI171 crew came alive not as statistics of a tragedy, but as cherished friends, mentors, and family. During a memorial service, colleagues shared deeply personal stories, painting a picture of the love and laughter that defined the 12 lives lost.  

The service was a celebration of life, focusing on the small, human moments that leave the deepest imprints. Friends remembered Captain Sumeet Sabharwal not just as a respected commander, but as a man who “dignified the uniform” and was ironically nicknamed “Sad Sack” at his flying academy because he was always smiling, a calm presence for everyone.  

They spoke of the bonds that turn colleagues into family. A colleague described his best friend, Irfan Shaikh, as his “family away from home.” He shared memories of the two of them, having left their own families to chase their dreams, creating a new life together in a small flat, sharing instant noodles and stories after long-haul flights.  

The tributes revealed the crew’s profound dedication and unique personalities. Friends recalled Shraddha Dhavan’s radiant smile and her unwavering professionalism; no matter how exhausted she was after a flight, she would always meticulously iron her uniform for the next day, ready for duty. They remembered  

Aparna Mahadik as a “girl from Bangalore who had learnt to speak Marathi fluently” and whose generosity knew no bounds. “Every time she went out, she would buy gifts for her in-laws, for her husband, for her 10-year-old daughter… and she would never forget to buy a treat for her dog,” a friend shared.  

Heartbreaking “last moments” were also shared, illustrating the deep connections among the crew. A close friend of Maithili Patil, tearfully recounted their last meeting at crew check-in. “She just told me to wait for two minutes. And I was like, ‘No, I have to go because I’m getting late. I’ll see you soon.’ And that ‘see you soon’ never came,” she said, expressing her regret for not taking those two minutes for a final hug.  

Through poems, laughter, and tears, the message was clear. As one colleague beautifully put it, “The aircraft is just not a machine to us. It’s our second home”. The memorial was a testament to that home and the family that filled it. While they may be gone, the memories of their kindness, their smiles, and their spirit will, as their friends vowed, remain forever in the skies they loved