Nidhi Chaphekar, the 42-year-old Jet Airways crew member whose image, sitting bloodied in her shredded yellow uniform at Brussels airport bombings became an iconic picture of the horror, finally returned back today, to an emotional homecoming.
The mother of two from Mumbai has not yet recovered from the injuries she suffered in the deadly attack on March 22.
She arrived around 7.30 AM on a Paris-Mumbai Jet Airways flight and was taken straight to Breach Candy hospital.
“We are extremely happy to have Nidhi back home with us in Mumbai after the horrific episode in Brussels”, said Rupesh Chaphekar, Nidhi’s husband. “Her homecoming is an extremely emotional moment for all of us, especially her two children, who were reunited with her after six weeks as they could not travel to meet with her owing to their studies,” he said.
Nidhi has received the best medical care and attention and has now recovered significantly from her injuriesRupesh Chaphekar
She will continue her recovery at a hospital in Mumbai. The most important thing for us now is that Nidhi makes a full recovery, he said.
Expressing his gratitude to doctors and medical staff in Brussels, Rupesh said, “We would like to thank them for the care they gave Nidhi during her stay in the hospital.” He also thanked Jet Airways Jet management for the support they extended to Nidhi and to the family. In a statement, Jet said Nidhi is in good spirits and is happy to be back with her family. Airline officials said that doctors have advised her to avoid contact with people.
Nidhi was on her way to board a Jet flight for Newark when the three explosions – two at the Brussels airport and one at Mallbeek metro station, took place. She suffered 15 per cent burns and fractured an ankle.
Her colleague, Amit Motwani, was also injured and is still recovering at Brussels.
Nidhi was treated at Grande Hospital de Chaleroi, about 40 km from Brussel. She was discharged yesterday, taken to Paris from where she boarded the flight to Mumbai.
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