The case of Mahesh Kalawadia, the missing filmmaker from Naroda, has added a deeply human and mysterious layer to the tragedy surrounding last Thursday’s devastating plane crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
The Crash: A Quick Recap
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The crash occurred minutes after takeoff, when a commercial flight plunged into the hostel of a medical college, located just 5 minutes from the airport.
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241 people on board died, and at least 29 people on the ground were also killed, many of whom were charred beyond recognition.
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The intensity of the blast and ensuing fire has made identification extremely difficult, necessitating DNA testing for most victims.
Mahesh Kalawadia’s Disappearance
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Mahesh, a resident of Naroda and known local filmmaker, had told his wife Hetal around 1:14 PM that he had concluded a meeting near Law Garden and was heading home.
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Minutes later, his phone went off around 1:40 PM, exactly a minute after the ill-fated flight took off and shortly before the crash occurred.
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Police tracked his last phone location to a spot just 700 metres from the crash site.
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Strangely, the route he appeared to take was not his usual path home, according to his family.
Key Unsettling Clues
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Phone and scooter missing: His phone went offline at a critical moment and hasn’t been recovered. His scooter is also missing, adding to suspicions.
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The family fears he may have been caught in the explosion’s impact radius — possibly among the ground fatalities.
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Since many of those killed on the ground were burned beyond recognition, DNA samples were requested and have been submitted by Mahesh’s family for forensic comparison.
Identification Status
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Out of 270+ total fatalities, only 47 victims have been identified via DNA testing so far.
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24 bodies have been returned to families.
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Mahesh is still officially listed as missing, pending DNA confirmation.
Family’s Appeal
Hetal Kalawadia’s account underscores the emotional toll:
“His phone got switched off around 1:40pm... All this is unusual since he would never use that route. We’ve submitted DNA samples to check if he was one of those killed on the ground.”
Her words reflect deep concern but also a hope for closure — whether through recovery or confirmation.
Unanswered Questions
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Why was Mahesh near the crash site?
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Was he rerouting due to traffic, or had he changed his destination?
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Was he recording or working near the airport?
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As a filmmaker, it’s plausible he was shooting or scouting — something that may explain being unusually close to the site.
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Why did the phone turn off exactly when the crash happened?
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This has led to speculation that he may have been directly affected by the explosion or resulting shockwave.
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