Mangalore : Joel’s Survival in the Air Crash is a Faith Experince

by Fr Francis Rodrigues, Raknno

Mangalore, May 31: If we visit a simple house named ‘Little Hut’ in Vamanjoor, a semi-urban place 10 KMs away from Mangalore, we would be able to meet a bit hefty  young man named Joel Pratap D’Souza but with safety belts and clutches. He was the one who first jumped out of the Air India Express IX 812 that crashed on 22/05/2010 in Mangalore and is one of the only eight  lucky survivors who traveled in the  said flight. He is the only Christian among the eight lucky ones.  He was discharged on the 27th of May after a 24x7 round the clock treatment for 5 days in KMC Hospital, Mangalore. As a result of the jump from the aircraft, he had incurred a ligament injury on his right knee and a fracture of spine for which he needs to continue the rest and medical support. His survival is accepted as a faith experience by the whole family of Joel.

With this incident the whole family especially his father Joseph D’Souza and mother Rosy D’Souza’s memory goes back to the year 1984.  Even though Joseph runs a auto rickshaw in the locality since 1997, before that he was working on a boat in Arabian sea near Mumbai.  In 1984 the boat in which he was working melted into the deep waters of the sea with heavy winds.  Out of 14 people on the boat only 4 survived after struggling in the waters for about six hours after which they were rescued by some mail shipmen.  And Joseph is one of them.  For nearly two months he was hospitalized.  And Joel was born two years later on 5.9.1986. ‘Life  is all a mystery which no one can explain except God’ says the family with the recollection of 1984 and the context of 22/5.

Joel’s parents join their voices as to accept this as a faith experience.  Joel too is of the same experience.  They say:  ‘22/5 is unimaginable. Even with that colossal crash that our son is back with us is a mystery about which we can neither think or explain.  It is nothing but God’s blessing.  Joel might have done a wise decision in that sharp situation. But God has opened his brains and will power to  decide and it is God who has opened the aircraft for his jump. Just previous evening a Capuchin priest had visited our house and may be he too must have prayed for God’s blessings on our family.’

Joseph continues: I had three children till  other day.  Eldest son is Jeevan Prashant married to Mamatha Marina. Second one is a daughter Freema who is married to Neil Lasrado. It is this son-in-law who is in Dubai who informed us while we were waiting for Joel near the airport that there was a air crash but Joel is safe and coming towards the terminal.  For Joel had given a miss call to Neil who later contacted him for the happenings. Joel had not informed us lest we should be shocked. Third one and the youngest is actually Joel but we have a reborn Joel on 22/5.  Now he is the fourth child. When he was a small kid we held him in our hands and now again we are holding him in our hands.’

Joel himself believes in a God made miracle in his survival. He believes thus:    “I had jumped first and three or four who have jumped after me have fallen on me because of which I had little more injuries.  But I had a thought in my mind that these are my last moments.  I won’t be able to see my parents, family members and especially my cute niece anymore.  Yet God wanted me live further.  It is He who has given me some more life span.  There was a simple vehicle cleaner whom I knew since some years.  Some time ago he happened to go to Dubai.  Other day on the flight he met me and told me: ‘Joel, I am alone. No one will come to the airport to fetch me.  As you would be getting a vehicle to the airport, please take me till Vamanjoor.’ I had assured  him to take in our vehicle.  But unfortunately he is no more.  No words would console the other young man’s mother (she is the mother of one of the young victims of the aircrash) who says that her son has reached near the thresh-hold but hasn’t come into the house.  In spite of all these mishaps I am given the chance by God.’

For Rosy his mother again it is  a faith experience.  She narrates: ‘May be it is God’s plan that on that day our son should wear pants with number of pockets because of which he had placed the passport and mobile in his pockets.  Usually he would keep them in a  bag.  With the passport we could go to the aviation officials in the airport from where he was admitted in the hospital by the staff of the airport. As soon as we met our wounded son, after saying ‘Mummy, I thought I am already gone and finished’ he cried allowed before us.  God was with us, it was God’s wish that our son should be back with us.’

Joel’s friend and neighbour, a Hindu, Sandeep Shetty has something to narrate about the personality of Joel.  According to him ‘Joel is bit quiet person with less words.  But he is always action oriented, daring and decisive.  He used to lead us towards risk takings with his usual response ‘Let us do it’.  He is always loving and cheerful.  That is the reason all of us ran to him as we heard that he is one of the eight survivors.’ 

Joel has completed IT and mechanical diploma after Pre-University studies. Recent one was his second trip to Dubai with a visiting visa.  While returning he had come with an offer letter by one of the companies in Dubai and was suppose to join the duty on the 2nd of June.  He is very positive and extremely happy with the lovely medical and other related services arranged by Air India Company.  The Bangalore Manager of Air India, Anil Matham was with him for long 24 hours which he cherishes.  

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