Mangalore crash: Final rites of co-pilot, air hostess performed

The final rites of two of the crew members of the ill-fated Air-India Express aircraft that crashed at Mangalore were performed here today.

Cremation of co-pilot H S Ahluwalia took place at suburban Andheri after relatives offered prayers at a nearby Gurudwara. His body was brought to Mumbai today afternoon.

Sanjay Bhalla, Ahluwalia's neighbour, said "He (Ahluwalia) always wanted to become a pilot... its hard to believe that he is no more. His mother is still under shock."

The body of Tejal Kamulkar, an air hostess, was kept at her home in Dombivali, a suburb in neighbouring Thane district for 20 minutes after it was brought from Mangalore.

Later, her brother Gaurav performed the last rites.

Addressing reporters outside the domestic airport in the afternoon, Tejal's father, Anil Kamulkar, said, "We are shattered. We are yet to come to terms with her death."

"Thorough investigation should be conducted to establish the cause of the crash," he added.

Tejal, 24, had started her career in the aviation industry as an air hostess only four months ago by joining Air India. Ahluwalia, 41, on the other hand, was serving as a co-pilot for last 15 years and was due for commandership.