Tom Fletcher Forced to Apologise for ‘Insensitive’ Post After Air India Plane Crash
A devastating plane crash in India has resulted in the deaths of over 250 people, and has sparked an outpouring of tributes and condolences from around the world. However, two high-profile celebrities have been forced to apologise for insensitive social media posts made in the aftermath of the tragedy.
According to a report from The Independent, McFly singer Tom Fletcher was one of those to face criticism, after sharing a post on his Instagram Stories about becoming a trained pilot. The post, which was accompanied by Foo Fighters song "Learn to Fly", was deleted after many of his two million followers alerted him to the news of the Air India plane crash.
In a follow-up post, Fletcher issued a sincere apology, stating: "Sorry, I’ve only just seen the terrible news about the Air India crash. So awful. Had I known earlier, I obviously wouldn’t have posted about my flight today. I understand why that must have looked insensitive and have deleted it." The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant added that his "whole heart goes out to everyone involved in the crash and all their friends and families".
As reported by The Independent, Fletcher’s apology came hours after The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright addressed an "inappropriate" post he had shared in the aftermath of the crash. Wright explained that he had written and scheduled the post before the crash occurred, and had immediately deleted it upon realising his mistake.
"I apologise for a post I just put up on my page after today’s heartbreaking events," Wright wrote on his Instagram Stories. "I have posts from a holiday that are on the scheduled setting, which go out on future days I have set them for which was done last week. It’s a horrendous coincidence that today’s post was on such a devastating day."
The Air India plane crash occurred on Thursday, June 12, when the aircraft, which was flying to London Gatwick, crashed into a hostel building in Gujarat just five minutes after taking off. The incident has sparked a massive investigation, with Indian civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stating that a formal probe had been initiated in accordance with international protocols.
As noted by The Independent, a UK team has also been dispatched to join the investigation, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirming the deployment. The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a line training captain with 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours.
In a tragic twist, a British national was identified as the sole survivor of the flight. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who had been sitting in seat 11A, was identified by local police shortly after the crash. There were 10 other crew members on board, according to civil aviation authorities.
The incident has sent shockwaves around the world, with many paying tribute to the victims and their families. As the investigation continues, it is clear that the road to recovery will be long and difficult for those affected.
The crash serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respecting the sensitivities of others, particularly in times of tragedy. As Tom Fletcher and Mark Wright have demonstrated, even the most seemingly innocuous social media posts can have a profound impact when shared in the aftermath of a disaster.
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