Bournemouth father of two among Air India plane crash victims

A father who was among the passengers who died in the Air India plane crash has been described as a “great human being” by his friends.

Ketan Shah’s close friend for more than 15 years Jigneshkumar Patel said he was “still trying to process this heart-breaking news”.

He said 43-year-old Mr Shah had lived in Southbourne in Dorset for more than 10 years, and is survived by his wife Megha, teenage son and daughter.

Mr Patel said he was “like a brother,” adding that he was “worried about the family”.

The Air India passenger plane bound for London’s Gatwick airport crashed shortly after taking off in Ahmedabad, western India, on Thursday, killing 241 passengers and crew, leaving a single survivor.

Mr Shah, who ran a village community store in Shipton Bellinger on the Hampshire and Wiltshire border, was visiting India to see his sick father.

“He was a great human being, always cheerful, always helpful and always gave you the time,” Mr Patel said

He said he remembered the fun times the pair had on holidays together.

“In the morning we heard the news of a flight crash, and we realised he was travelling but we weren’t sure he was in the flight,” Mr Patel said.

He added that they found his name on the passenger list and contacted his wife, who confirmed he was involved in the crash.

“Before the plane took off he called his wife to tell her he was on the flight and that’s the last conversation she had with him,” Mr Patel said.

Mr Patel said they would arrange a tribute to Mr Shah in Southampton.

Hardik Patel, who was also a close friend of Mr Shah for 12 years, said: “To be honest he was such a good friend, he was like family.

“Always listening, always understanding, he was the organiser. In the last year we had two holidays together with the families. Such a good time.

“For me I don’t have the words to be honest. We have latest memory on holiday in Egypt.”

There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the flight.

At least 50 injured medical students are being treated in hospital after the plane crashed into a doctors’ hostel in the western Indian city.