Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala Death Confirmed After 8 days, Family Accepts Body

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Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala’s Death Confirmed After Eight Days, Family Finally Accepts Body

After eight agonizing days of uncertainty, the death of television and music-video director Mahesh Jirawala has been officially confirmed by Ahmedabad police. His family, who had held out hope that he might still be alive, finally accepted his body on Sunday following the presentation of irrefutable forensic evidence. Jirawala’s tragic end is one of 270 fatalities in the June 12 crash of an Air India flight near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, a disaster that left the city—and the nation—in shock.

A Routine Day Turned Catastrophic

On the morning of June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI-112, a Boeing 737-800 en route from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, was on its final approach. At 9:14 a.m., eyewitnesses reported an explosion and a burst of flame as the aircraft came down in a populated residential area just west of the runway. In seconds, the sleek aluminum fuselage was engulfed in fire, and debris rained onto homes, parked cars, and open fields.

Rescue teams arrived within minutes, but the intensity of the blaze hampered initial relief efforts. Firefighters battled pockets of flame for over four hours before declaring the area secure. Amid the chaos, witnesses described scenes of heartbreak: families gathered around the smoking wreckage, desperate to locate missing loved ones; volunteer doctors setting up makeshift triage stations; and strangers risking their lives to pull survivors from the flames.

The Human Toll

By the end of June 12, local authorities confirmed that 241 people aboard Flight AI-112 had perished. A further 29 residents on the ground lost their lives when burning debris struck homes and marketplaces. Injuries numbered in the hundreds, with dozens still listed in critical condition at Ahmedabad’s major hospitals.

The Indian government declared three days of national mourning, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on June 13 to pay his respects. He pledged a full investigation, expedited compensation for victims’ families, and a review of aviation safety protocols. However, for many, the official promises did little to ease the grief of not knowing the fate of missing relatives.

Mahesh Jirawala: A Life Interrupted

Among the dozens reported missing in the first 72 hours after the crash was 42-year-old filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala, CEO of Mahesh Jirawala Productions. Known for his award-winning television advertisements and innovative music videos, Jirawala was a fixture in the advertising industry. Colleagues praised his keen eye for visual storytelling and his warm, collaborative spirit.

On the morning of June 12, Jirawala left his Navrangpura residence on his Activa scooter to meet a client near the airport road. Witnesses later reported seeing a lone scooter parked by a roadside wall—blackened and charred—near the crash site. Geolocation data from his mobile phone corroborated those accounts; the device’s last ping occurred at 9:12 a.m., moments before the aircraft’s fiery descent. Shortly afterward, the phone switched off, and all attempts to reach him went unanswered.

The Family’s Denial and Reluctance

For Mahesh’s wife, Priya, and their two young children—five-year-old daughter Diya and three-year-old son Aarav—the following days were a torturous blur of hope and despair. “We could not believe that Mahesh was on that flight,” Priya told reporters. “He had told me he would take his own car; he never would have boarded a plane that day. Something didn’t add up.”

Family members scoured nearby hospitals and morgues, hugging onto the slim possibility that he had escaped the crash zone on foot, conscious but injured. Local volunteers joined the search, distributing flyers, and sharing social-media appeals. Meanwhile, police investigators cautioned that the scale of the disaster made it unlikely any additional survivors would be found.

Forensic Evidence and Official Confirmation

On June 18, forensic teams recovered additional human remains from the crash perimeter. Among them were bone fragments and tissue samples that, under DNA analysis, matched Jirawala’s genetic profile provided by his immediate family. To eliminate any doubt, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch also produced records linking the burnt Activa’s chassis number to Jirawala’s scooter registered in his name.

Initially, Priya and her in-laws refused to accept the findings. “We needed to see proof with our own eyes,” said Mahesh’s brother, Sanjay Jirawala. “Even then, it felt like a nightmare we couldn’t wake up from.” It was only after a private meeting with senior police officers—during which they reviewed the DNA results and saw the damaged scooter firsthand—that the family conceded. At 11 a.m. on June 21, they formally received the body at the Civil Hospital mortuary.

Details of the Funeral and Final Rites

Mahesh Jirawala’s funeral rites were held on the afternoon of June 21 at the Shreyas Crematorium in Ahmedabad. In accordance with Hindu customs, his body was cremated with Vedic chants led by the family priest. Hundreds of mourners—friends, colleagues, and fans—gathered to pay their respects, many visibly moved to tears as garlands of marigolds and roses were laid on the pyre.

In a poignant gesture, members of Bhagini Mandal, an association of female film and advertising professionals, stood guard by Priya and the children, offering comfort and shielding them from the media glare. Actress-producer Vidya Balan, a longtime admirer of Jirawala’s work, attended the ceremony in silence, laying a single bouquet at the entrance. “We have lost not just a director but a visionary,” she said. “His creativity touched lives across India.”

Reactions from the Film and Advertising Community

News of Mahesh’s confirmed death sent shockwaves through Mumbai’s film and advertising circles. On-location shoots were halted as crews observed moments of silence. The Association of Advertising Film Producers (AAFP) issued a statement honoring Jirawala’s “unmatched dedication to the craft” and announced the establishment of a scholarship in his name for aspiring directors.

Several of his collaborators took to social media to share memories: veteran cinematographer Rakesh Desai recalled Jirawala’s insistence on outdoor shoots at dawn to capture the perfect golden light. Music director Sneha Nair remembered late-night editing sessions fueled by tea and Jirawala’s trademark banana muffins. “He inspired us to chase perfection,” Nair wrote. “He believed every shot told a story and that story deserved our best.”

Investigating the Crash: Aviation Authorities Respond

Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) continued its probe into the causes of the crash. Preliminary findings released on June 20 cited potential issues with the aircraft’s landing gear and possible runway incursions by unauthorized vehicles—though officials stressed these were “early indicators” subject to further analysis. Black-box data recovery efforts have concluded, and both the cockpit voice recorder and flight-data recorder have been flown to Delhi for in-depth examination.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has promised a full report by September 2025. In the interim, it mandated safety audits at all major Indian airports and ordered a fleet-wide inspection of Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Indian carriers. Opposition lawmakers have called for an independent judicial inquiry, arguing that only a transparent process can restore public confidence in India’s aviation sector.

The Broader Impact and Next Steps

For the Jirawala family, the coming weeks will be a period of adjustment and healing. Priya has requested privacy as she cares for Diya and Aarav, both of whom are too young to fully comprehend their father’s fate. A close family friend has offered to help manage the production house’s pending projects, ensuring that Mahesh’s creative legacy endures.

Ahmedabad’s mayor, Hemant Patel, announced a citywide tribute on June 25: all municipal buildings will dim their lights for five minutes at sunset, and a digital memorial will display the names and photographs of all 270 victims of Flight AI-112. The gesture aims to unite the community in collective remembrance and underscore the need for vigilance in public safety.

Remembering Mahesh Jirawala’s Legacy

Born in Vadodara in 1983, Mahesh Jirawala moved to Mumbai in his early twenties, determined to carve out a niche in India’s competitive advertising film industry. After working as an assistant director at two major production houses, he launched Mahesh Jirawala Productions in 2014. Over the next decade, he crafted high-profile campaigns for leading brands—including a celebrated Tata Motors spot that won international acclaim—and directed over 200 music videos for artists across genres.

His signature style combined crisp editing, innovative camera angles, and a subtle infusion of storytelling that transcended mere product pitches. In interviews, he often spoke of cinema’s power to connect people, saying, “If my work can make someone feel a little less alone, a little more hopeful, then I’ve done my job.” Colleagues described him as both exacting and generous—“a mentor to many,” according to ad-film producer Sonia Mehta.

A Family’s New Chapter

As the Jirawala family lays Mahesh to rest, they face an uncertain future without their husband and father. “We will honor his memory by living our lives fully, with the courage and creativity he championed,” Priya stated in a brief message to the press. She has expressed her intention to continue the production house, working alongside Mahesh’s senior creative team to complete pending projects and mentor new talent.

In a nation still reeling from one of its worst aviation tragedies, the story of Mahesh Jirawala stands out as both heartbreaking and heroic. His disappearance among the crash victims underscored the randomness of fate; his body’s identification after eight days highlighted the painstaking efforts of forensic teams; and his family’s reluctant acceptance illuminated the emotional toll on those left behind.

Conclusion

The Ahmedabad plane crash of June 12, 2025, will be remembered as a day of profound loss—270 lives extinguished in a single, devastating instant. Among them was Mahesh Jirawala, a creative force whose absence leaves a void in India’s advertising and film community. His journey from hopeful assistant to celebrated director exemplified the entrepreneurial spirit of modern India, and his family’s heartbreaking wait for confirmation of his fate reminds us of the human faces behind every news headline.

As investigations continue and the search for answers proceeds, the memory of those who perished—including Mahesh—will serve as a solemn reminder of the fragility of life, the importance of safety, and the enduring power of art to touch hearts long after its creator has departed.

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