When Raveena Tandon chose to fly after the Ahmedabad plane crash, it became a moment we'll never forget.
On June 12, 2025, India was rocked by one of the most horrific air tragedies in its history. Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed to London, crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel complex just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad. The crash killed 279 people… 241 passengers and crew members on board, plus 38 people on the ground. During the country-wide mourning, Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon expressed a poignant and symbolic gesture that touched the hearts of the masses: she opted to fly with Air India days following the catastrophe.
As most of the country was grappling with the atrocity, Raveena Tandon took a flight on Air India… not as a traveler but as an image of solidarity. Her action was not accidental. It was thoughtful, compassionate, and brave.
In a poignant post on Instagram, Raveena wrote about her emotional journey on the flight. She stated:
“New Beginnings.” to rise and fly again against all odds. to pick up and start all over, new resolve towards greater strength. The atmosphere was solemn, and the crew’s welcoming smiles had a tinge of sadness. A wound that will never heal.”
Her post captured the quiet sadness between the airline crew and passengers… mutual understanding in silence. But there was more than sadness that it conveyed… it was a call to rise again. To heal. To go forward.
A Voice for the VoicelessRaveena’s eulogy wasn’t merely about the loss of life… it was a courageous expression of solidarity with the Air India crew, who still fly carrying with them the burden of shared tragedy. Being on board the flight was a statement: We still have faith in you.
She wrapped up with a moving salute to the airline:
“Godspeed always, @airindia. Fearless and a will to overcome and be strong again. Jai Hind.”
Celebrity CondolencesRaveena wasn’t alone in conveying sorrow. The Indian film fraternity joined in with genuine messages:
Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared condolences.
Amitabh Bachchan requested an open investigation and collective remembrance.
Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt, Allu Arjun, and Karan Johar joined in echoing words of shock, solidarity, and sorrow.
But Raveena’s action was different… not merely as a tribute, but as an act. It was not merely a message on a screen; it was a message in action.
By taking Air India, Raveena defied the public fear and doubt regarding the airline’s safety following the crash. Her eulogy was not just words… it was a vote of confidence, a gentle push to a mourning nation that healing starts with belief.
It’s such gestures that make celebrity voices human. She didn’t move away from tragedy; she moved towards it, taking up space for the bereaved and demonstrating that mourning can be confronted with grace and bravery.
Final ThoughtsWords are inadequate in moments of mass trauma. But Raveena Tandon’s heartfelt tribute… and her courageous choice to travel on Air India… provided something more: a sense of common humanity. Her message, enfolded in unspoken strength and patriotic pride, asked India to stay aloft… not merely in the air, but in its spirit.
As the country proceeds with grieving, those words remain like a soothing balm:
“An eternal wound that will never heal. But we still rise. Jai Hind.”