Mumbai: Dubai-based businessman, Dr BR Shetty, was shaken up by the news of the Mangalore tragedy on Saturday. He was one of the last persons to be served by air hostess Sujata Survase, before she was killed in the crash.
Shetty had met the deceased air hostess Survase on a flight to Abu Dhabi before she boarded the Mangalore-bound flight IX-812.
The businessman, who owns two floors at the world's tallest tower Burj Khalifa in Dubai, was returning to Abu Dhabi from Mangalore on Thursday by an Air India Express flight when he met Survase.
"She was excellent. We were nearly landing and the gentleman next to me started coughing and wanted water and she fetched a glass for him and me. She was a very enthusiastic girl, speaking about her job and how much she liked it. I was rattled when I saw the news because I was probably one of the last persons to meet her before she died. I landed in Abu Dhabi on Thursday at 1.30 pm and that same aircraft took off from Dubai on Saturday early morning. It was disturbing," said Shetty.
A condolence meet was held at the Indian Social Centre in Abu Dhabi yesterday where members have decided to form a committee to channel donations to victims. "Money can be misused in such matters, so we're trying to streamline the process. Local associations are being roped in to help in any way we can," said Shetty.