Dubai: Kerala expat’s Air India plane crash horror resurfaces with Ahmedabad tragedy

Dubai: When news broke of the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon (June 12, 2025), Suneesh Sreevalsam, Indian expat from Kerala, had just begun his shift at a private hospital in Dubai.
He paused for a silent prayer before getting to work. But a few hours later, his worst fears were confirmed: the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had crashed, killing everyone on board except one passenger.

For Suneesh, the news struck a painful and deeply personal chord. The devastating images and reports stirred memories of another tragedy – the May 22, 2010, Air India Express crash in Mangalore, which claimed the life of his elder brother Vijesh Kovval.

“When someone dies, they’re gone forever,” Suneesh said, his voice heavy with emotion. “Vijesh was the eldest of us three brothers. My second brother Vinesh works in Qatar,” said Suneesh, who hails from Kasaragod district. “I can’t describe the pain. It still hurts. I still remember that ill-fated day like it was yesterday.”

Vijesh, just 31 at the time, was working in Al Ain, and flying back home. The Air India Express flight had overshot the runway in Mangalore, skidded down a hill, and burst into flames. Of the 166 people on board, 158 perished.

Recollecting the day, Suneesh said: “I was speechless. It was an untimely death, a shocking and irreplaceable loss. Even after 15 years, a part of us still believes he isn’t gone. That’s how deep the grief runs. I didn’t know what to say back then and honestly, I still don’t.”

Meanwhile, Vinesh echoed similar sentiments, saying the family has never recovered from their greatest loss.
“We are still living with his memories. We can never forget the incident. Personally, I do not have any words to express our feelings and emotions,” said Vinesh over the phone, a reminder that time may pass, but some losses remain etched in the heart.

In the aftermath of the Mangalore crash, LLH Hospital in Abu Dhabi extended support to the families of victims by offering employment opportunities. That’s how Suneesh came to the UAE.
“It was a kind gesture by Dr Shamsheer Vayalil. I was given a role managing medical records. That job helped me heal and get back on my feet.”

Now 39 and working at Zulekha Hospital in Dubai, Suneesh said the scars of such a loss never truly fade. Watching the heartbreak of families affected by the Ahmedabad crash reopened old wounds.
“When a plane goes down, it’s not just one life lost. An entire family’s dreams are destroyed, their future shattered.”

Since the opening of Kannur International Airport, Suneesh and his family have avoided flying from Mangalore. “We use Kannur airport now,” he said quietly.