Tuithaphai, June 12, 2025: In the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171, which claimed the lives of over 200 people on June 12, two promising young cabin crew members from Manipur - Lamnunthem Singson (24) and Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma (22) - were among those who perished, leaving behind a wave of grief in their home state.
The aircraft, bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. Only one person is reported to have survived. As investigations continue, the stories of the victims are slowly surfacing - and few are as deeply heart-wrenching as those of these two young women who had only just begun to live their dreams.
Lamnunthem Singson, a 24-year-old from the Kuki community, was the only daughter in a family of four siblings. Her father passed away years ago, and her mother raised the children alone. Displaced by the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, the family moved from Old Lambulane, Imphal, to a rented house in Kangpokpi, living as internally displaced persons (IDPs). Against all odds, Lamnunthem fulfilled her ambition of becoming a cabin crew member, joining Air India in 2024. For her family, she was not just a daughter - but a beacon of resilience and hope.
Nganthoi Sharma, a 22-year-old from the Meitei community, was a second-semester student at the College of Commerce in Imphal. She had always dreamt of flying. That dream came true when she was selected by Air India during a campus recruitment drive in February 2023. By April, she was in uniform, taking to the skies with pride. “It was her first attempt - and she made it,” her family recalled with pride and heartbreak. The second of three sisters, Nganthoi was the joy of her home - a quiet achiever with a heart full of aspirations.
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Both Singson and Nganthoi represented the diversity and spirit of Manipur - one Kuki, one Meitei - united not by conflict, but by shared dreams of flight and service. Their loss has devastated not only their families and communities but also stirred deep sorrow across Manipur, which continues to suffer the scars of unrest.
As the nation mourns, Manipur remembers two daughters who dared to dream above the clouds - and were taken far too soon.
