Smiling alongside his spouse, here is the poignant last photograph of Faizan Rafik taken before he embarked on the tragic Air India flight that met its demise last year.
Hours later, he perished along with 259 other individuals when the London-bound aircraft plummeted from the sky shortly after takeoff. On the anniversary of that fateful day, Faizan’s relative, Sameer Rafik, reminisces about how the 25-year-old brightened the lives of all he encountered.
In an exclusive discussion, he also discloses their final dialogue, Faizan’s unique burial site alongside his late mother, and the charitable initiatives he is spearheading to improve the world in honor of his cousin. Sameer, aged 27, expressed to the Mirror: “Life feels completely hollow without Faizan – our existence lacks tranquility now.
“Faizan was an exceptional individual – I have never encountered a sibling like him in my entire life. His countenance always radiated a smile. I attempted to emulate him, but fell short.”
Faizan tragically lost his life when Air India flight 171 crashed into a medical college building in the Indian city of Ahmedabad less than a minute after departing the runway on June 12 last year. The accident resulted in the deaths of 260 individuals, including 19 on the ground, and inflicted injuries on numerous others, marking it as the worst aviation disaster in a decade. Remarkably, one passenger, a British national, survived.
Driving Faizan from Leicester to Gatwick Airport en route to India ten days earlier, Sameer had no inkling that it would be their final voyage together. “He embraced me – if I had known that was our last embrace, I would never have let him go,” Sameer expressed, with tears welling up.
“During that journey, he confided in me about every aspect of his life. He shared his aspirations and future plans. Having just obtained his driver’s license, he was brimming with excitement. He envisioned having his license upon his return and wanted me to accompany him to purchase his inaugural car.”
Considering Faizan as a brother, Sameer yearns for the mundane, everyday moments they shared in Leicester. He remarked: “We interacted daily. Whenever he visited my residence, he would persistently ring the doorbell. I still long for the sound of that bell. Since last year, it has remained silent. He used to pass by my store on his way to work. He would pause and always request a ride home.”
Recently journeying to the family’s ancestral town of Diu in the Indian state of Gujarat to pay respects at Faizan’s grave, Sameer found solace in the fact that his cousin rests beside his mother, who passed away during Faizan’s childhood. Displaying a photo of their final resting place adorned with blossoms, Sameer remarked: “[Faizan] was fortunate to be laid to rest alongside his mother. They shared a close bond. It is truly special.”
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