Tom Fletcher, 39, issues apology for ‘insensitive’ plane post after Air India crash as ITV The Voice star addresses backlash
Tom Fletcher has apologised for posting about planes on social media following the Air India crash that claimed 241 lives on Thursday.
The tragedy occurred when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat.
Fletcher, 39, shared a post on Instagram Stories about flying his own plane whilst listening to Foo Fighters’ Learn to Fly.
The McFly frontman quickly deleted the content after learning about the disaster.
His public apology comes just hours after TV personality Mark Wright, 38, similarly posted a photograph of himself with wife Michelle Keegan and their daughter Palma in front of a private jet.
The former TOWIE star’s caption read: “1 day babe, for now we’ll take row 26 with no extra leg room.”
Both celebrities removed their posts and issued apologies after realising their insensitivity.
Fletcher issued a statement explaining: “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.”
The singer, who obtained his pilot’s licence in 2008 at the age of 23, acknowledged the poor timing of his post. “I understand why that must have looked insensitive and have deleted it. Thanks for letting me know,” he wrote.
He added: “My whole heart goes out to everyone involved in the crash and all their friends & families.”
Fletcher has previously stated that if he had not pursued music, he would have become a pilot. His original post had referenced flying whilst listening to the Foo Fighters song Learn to Fly.
Wright explained that his post had been scheduled in advance, stating: “I apologise for a post I just put up on my page after today’s heartbreaking events.
“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.”
The television presenter, who had been returning from his first family holiday in Spain, called it “a horrendous coincidence that today’s post was on such a devastating day.”
“Once I logged in to my Instagram and realised the post had gone out, I immediately deleted. My heart goes out to everyone who has been effected from today. I’m sorry for this mistake and any offence caused,” Wright added.
Followers had criticised the post, with one commenting: “Prob not the best day to post this when so many people lost their lives on a plane.” (sic)
The Air India Flight 171 tragedy killed all but one of the 242 passengers aboard, including 53 British nationals.
The sole survivor, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, who was seated in 11A, is recovering in hospital.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into the densely populated Meghani area, with authorities confirming eight additional ground casualties.
Four were medical students living in a building struck by the aircraft, whilst the other four were relatives of students residing in the hostel.
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Among the British victims were Akeel Nanawaba, 36, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, 30, and their four-year-old daughter Sarah, who were returning from a five-day family celebration.
Also killed were Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, 45, and husband Fiongal, 39, who run a wellness company and had been holidaying in India.