Lamnunthem took sick colleague's shift, loses her life
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 13 2025: In a heart-breaking twist of fate, 26-year-old Lamnunthem Singson, a cabin crew member with Air India, along with Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam were among the victims of the Air India Flight AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on June 12 .

Their death has sent shockwaves through their family, friends, and the wider community.

Lamnunthem's death struck her family hard as news emerged that she had stepped in to replace a sick colleague on the doomed flight.

Nganthoi Kongbrailatpam, Lamnunthem Singson

According to her family, Lamnunthem had not been assigned to the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick route but volunteered to take the place of a fellow crew member who got ill.

Her decision to help a colleague, a reflection of her dedication and work ethics, has now left her loved ones in grief.

On the night before the flight, Lamnunthem spoke to her mother, Nemneilhing Singson, as was their nightly routine.

They prayed together over the phone before she went to bed early, preparing for her duty the next day, unaware it would be their last conversation.

Born on November 13, 1998, Lamnunthem was the only daughter of her widowed mother and the third of four siblings.

Her father, Lienminlun Singson, passed away some years back.

In May 2023, during the outbreak of ethnic violence in the state, the family fled their home in Imphal's Old Lambulane locality.

They have since been living in a rented house in Kangpokpi district.

Lamnunthem had become the family's primary breadwinner, carrying the burden of responsibility following their displacement.

Her eldest brother, Ngamlienthang, is undergoing treatment for a serious illness in Guwahati, while the youngest sibling, Lenjathang, is still in school.

Her second brother, Thanggoulam, along with a cousin, left for Ahmedabad via Dimapur on Friday morning.

Ngamlienthang is travelling from Guwahati to join them.

Described as a bright and determined, Lamnunthem began her schooling at Lee Faith School in Sangaiprou, a locality that was later ravaged during the 2023 unrest.

She completed her matriculation at Christ Jyoti School in Mantripukhri, continued her higher secondary studies at HRD Academy, Ghari, and graduated from GP Women's College in Imphal.

She joined Air India in February 2023, fulfilling a dream she had pursued with perseverance amid adversity.

Friends and family remember Lamnunthem as a devoted daughter, a dependable sister, and a committed professional.

Her death has left a painful void among the displaced people, who saw her as a beacon of hope and resilience.

Air India Flight AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

In the valley, grief grips many following the death of Nganthoi Kongbrailatpam, one of the two cabin crew members from Manipur who died in the Air India crash.

Tributes pour in across social media, with one particularly emotional post by Kheronika Khangembam, a teacher at Assam Rifles Public School, Mantripukhri, drawing wide attention.

Sharing a childhood photo of Nganthoi, Kheronika captioned it in Manipuri:
"Ibemma! You said to me that, Miss I will become an air hostess, what happened? .

Pretty girl, most disciplined, best handwriting, best dancer, first in class Ibemma! .

There is nothing you were not skilled.

I could not find words to express my grief.

May you live long in your next life" .

The heartfelt post quickly went viral, prompting hundreds of reactions and messages of condolence from people across the state.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle, Kheronika recalled meeting Nganthoi during her tenure at Assam Rifles Middle School in Thoubal, before she was transferred to Koirengei.

"She (Nganthoi) was an exceptionally talented child, always smiling, calm, and well-mannered.

Her focus on academics, discipline, and dedication stood out.

She excelled not only in studies but also in dance.

During her time at the school up to Class V, we never had a single complaint about her," she said.

With tears in her eyes, Kheronika added that Nganthoi had often expressed her dream of becoming an air hostess.

"Remembering that now, I feel a deep sense of sorrow.

It's heart-breaking to think that her passion led her to this tragic end" .

Her family in Thoubal Awang Leikai is devastated by the sudden loss, struggling to come to terms with the cruel twist of fate that claimed their beloved daughter.

Relatives described her as the pride of the household, and her death has left an irreparable void in the family.