Passengers touring by means of London’s Gatwick Airport on Thursday expressed concern and nervousness over their security within the wake of the Air India crash that claimed not less than 260 lives.
“It’s absolutely terrible. There were so many people inside” the aeroplane, mentioned Olivia Paulin, 27, a researcher who had simply checked in for a brief flight to Scotland.
“You always think it happens to other people only.”
The temper was sombre on the airport, south of the U.Okay. capital, as many individuals arrived off lengthy flights to the news that an Air India Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 had crashed simply after take-off from the northwest Indian metropolis of Ahmedabad.
There have been 242 individuals on board the flight, which was sure for Gatwick, together with 53 U.Okay. nationals.
Incredibly, one man survived the crash. He was named in reviews as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, 40, from Leicester in central England.
Gatwick opened a assist middle for any household and buddies gathering on the airport looking for news of the flight, which had been because of arrive at 6:25 p.m. (1725 GMT) on Thursday.
By the top of the morning, dozens of journalists from the world’s media had arrived on the airport, organising within the northern terminal and holding nicely away from the Air India counter.
It was abandoned and a flight to Goa, which had been because of depart in a while Thursday, was canceled.
‘Nervous flyer’
“It’s so sad,” mentioned Eddy, 63, travelling again from Croatia and watching a video of the crash which got here on a breaking news alert on his cell phone as he walked by means of arrivals.
“We were flying on a similar plane. I feel safe when I fly, but it could be us. So sad. All of them lost their lives.”
Many individuals hurrying by means of the airport didn’t wish to touch upon the tragedy.
A younger British lady in her 20s had checked in for her flight to Türkiye, however advised Agence France-Presse (AFP): “I don’t want to talk about it. I am a nervous flyer. I have seen it, but I don’t want to talk about it.”
“It’s very scary. Above all, because it’s a very well-known airline with planes you presume they are very safe,” Paulin advised AFP.
“It makes me more nervous for travelling. You can’t control this feeling.”
“It was scary seeing it in the news, especially before going to Gatwick airport.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com