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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

AI’s Maharaja smiles joyfully

All 30 grounded aircrafts now fly Mumbai : Air India’s Maharaja is all pleased as punch at 80. After years of huge costs and efforts, the last of the grounded 30 aircraft – inherited by the Tata Group during the privatization in Jan. 2022 – is now resurrected fully and took to the skies gracefully on Monday.   The aircraft is the gleaming VT-ALL, a Boeing 777-300ER, that was gathering grime since February 2020, and becomes the final among the two-and-half dozen aircraft that have been revved...

AI’s Maharaja smiles joyfully

All 30 grounded aircrafts now fly Mumbai : Air India’s Maharaja is all pleased as punch at 80. After years of huge costs and efforts, the last of the grounded 30 aircraft – inherited by the Tata Group during the privatization in Jan. 2022 – is now resurrected fully and took to the skies gracefully on Monday.   The aircraft is the gleaming VT-ALL, a Boeing 777-300ER, that was gathering grime since February 2020, and becomes the final among the two-and-half dozen aircraft that have been revved up and revived in the past few years, AI official sources said.   It marked a symbolic milestone for Air India itself - founded in 1932 by the legendary Bharat Ratna J. R. R. Tata - which once ruled the roost and was India’s pride in the global skies.   Once renowned for its royal service with the iconic Maharaja welcoming fliers on board, in 1953 it was taken over by the government of India. After years of piling losses, ageing aircraft, decline in operations and standards – almost like a Maharaja turning a pauper - it returned to the Tata Group four years ago.   This time it was not just the aircraft, the brand and the deflated Maharaja coming into the large-hearted Tata Group stables, but a formidable challenge to ensure that the airline could regain its old glory and glitter. Of the total around 190 aircraft in its fleet were 30 – or 15 pc – that had been grounded and neglected for years.   At that time, the late Ratan N. Tata had directed that all these valuable aircraft must be revived as far as possible and join the fleet. Accordingly, the VT-ALL, languishing at Nagpur for nearly five years, was ‘hospitalized’ at the Air India Engineering Service Ltd., its MRO facility in May 2025.   New Avatar Then started a thorough, painstaking nose-to-tail restoration of an unprecedented scale, in which over 3000 critical components were replaced, over 4,000 maintenance tasks executed, besides key structural upgrades like the longeron modification, engines, auxiliary power units, avionics, hydraulics, landing gears and almost every vital system was rebuilt or replaced.   After the repairs, the old aircraft was reborn, under the gaze of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and technical assistance from Boeing, and the new ‘avatar’ jetliner emerged with the highest global safety standards.   The aircraft cleared all the rigorous checks, a successful test flight, earned the mandatory Airworthiness Review Certificate and then made its maiden commercial flight from Monday, March 16 – after a wait of six years.   Sturdy Fliers Created in 1946 to become an instant global icon, the Air India’s mascot Maharaja now sports a youthful and chic look, a welcome with folded hands, closed eyes, featuring a bejewelled turban, stylish jootis, and a textured kurta in Air India’s new colours. He is prominently visible at various touch-points in a flyer’s journey, such as First Class, exclusive lounges, and luxury products.   Today, he commands a mix fleet of around 190 narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft like : A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo, A350-900 and B787-8, B787-9, B7770200LR, B-777-300ER. With the merger of Vistara and agreements signed for 10 A350 and 90 A320 aircraft, the Maharaja’s fleet is slated to soar to some 570 in the near future.

Joy Turns Tragic

Man dies of heart attack while celebrating daughter’s UPSC success


Mohini Khandare
Mohini Khandare

Yavatmal: In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a moment of pride and joy turned into a lifetime of sorrow for the Khandare family from Vagad (Ijara) village in Mahagaon Taluka. Pralhad Khandare, a retired extension officer from the Pusad Panchayat Samiti, suffered a fatal heart attack while distributing sweets to villagers to celebrate his daughter Mohini Khandare’s success in the prestigious UPSC examination. The tragic incident occurred just moments after it was confirmed that Mohini had secured an All India Rank of 884.

 

Pralhad Khandare
Pralhad Khandare

The celebration, which began with immense pride over Mohini’s remarkable achievement, ended in deep mourning as her father collapsed amid the villagers. Despite immediate efforts, he could not be revived. The sudden demise of Pralhad Khandare has cast a shadow of grief not only over the Khandare family but also over the entire village and state, which had joined in celebrating the young woman’s accomplishment.

 

Mohini Khandare had been preparing for the Union Public Service Commission from Pune, attending coaching classes and dedicating herself wholeheartedly to her goal. She had earlier cleared the MPSC examination in 2021. Her success brought immense joy to her family, which includes her mother Pramila Khandare, a principal at a government school, and her elder brother Vikrant Khandare, a District Judge. Her sister-in-law is also a judge.

 

While Speaking to ‘The Perfect Voice’, Vikrant Khandare said, “Mohini’s UPSC result brought immense happiness to our family. Our father was overwhelmed with joy and began sharing sweets with the villagers. It was during this celebration that he suffered a sudden heart attack. We are devastated. From celebration to mourning, everything changed in an instant.”

 

The untimely death of Pralhad Khandare during a moment of immense family pride has left a deep emotional scar on the family and the local community. What was supposed to be a day of triumph and festivity turned into a day of profound loss.

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