What started as a light-hearted Instagram post quickly turned into a public apology for TV personality Mark Wright.
The former TOWIE star faced backlash online after sharing a travel-themed photo — just hours after news broke of a horrific Air India plane crash that claimed over 260 lives.
Mark, who had just returned from his first family holiday in Spain with wife Michelle Keegan and their baby daughter Palma, had posted a photo in front of a private jet.
The caption poked fun at the cramped space on commercial flights: “One day babe… for now we’ll take row 26 with no extra leg room.”
Unfortunately, the timing of the post couldn’t have been worse.
Apology Follows Swiftly After Backlash
Mark, 38, promptly deleted the post and took to Instagram Stories to explain himself.
He said the image had been scheduled in advance and wasn’t intended to be insensitive.
“I apologise for a post I just put up on my page after today’s heartbreaking events,” he wrote.
“I have posts from our holiday that are scheduled to go out on certain days — and this was set last week. It’s a horrendous coincidence that it was posted today.”
He added, “As soon as I saw it had gone live, I removed it immediately.
My heart goes out to everyone affected by today’s tragedy.
I’m truly sorry for the mistake and any offence caused.”
Social Media Users React
Despite the apology, some followers didn’t hold back.
One user commented under the original post, “Probably not the best day to post this when so many people lost their lives on a plane.”
Another echoed the sentiment: “Not really appropriate after today’s crash.”
The incident highlights how timing and automation on social media can sometimes lead to deeply unfortunate missteps — especially during global tragedies.
The Air India Tragedy in Gujarat
Meanwhile, the world is still reeling from the shocking plane crash involving Air India Flight 171, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed just minutes after takeoff, plummeting into a residential area in Meghani, Gujarat.
The crash, which happened at around 1:40pm local time, sparked an enormous explosion and a fireball visible from miles away.
CCTV footage and eyewitness videos show the aircraft losing control mid-air, descending rapidly with its nose pointed high before slamming into the ground.
Over 260 Feared Dead, One Survivor
Authorities say all but one of the 242 passengers and crew onboard have died.
Rescue teams, supported by the military, have recovered 204 bodies so far.
British, Indian, Portuguese, and Canadian nationals were among those onboard, including eleven children and two newborns.
The only known survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen seated in 11A, spoke to Indian press from his hospital bed, describing the chaos and devastation around him.
Grieving Families Identified
Among the deceased are several British families, including Akeel Nanawaba, Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sarah; Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek; Javed Ali Syed, his wife, and two children; and Raxa Modha with her grandson and daughter-in-law.
Local officials also confirmed civilian deaths on the ground, as the aircraft crashed into a residential zone with doctors’ accommodation near a hospital.
The Investigation Begins
Initial reports from aviation experts suggest the aircraft may have lost power during takeoff — a critical phase of flight.
Possible causes include wind shear, a bird strike, or even engine failure.
The aircraft’s transponder signal disappeared shortly after leaving the runway, and the plane reportedly only reached an altitude of 625 feet before it began its fatal descent.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has confirmed that a mayday call was made moments before the crash.
Officials are now analyzing the black box and wreckage to determine exactly what went wrong.
Emotional Statements and Support Efforts
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran released a heartfelt message, calling the event “a tragic accident” and assuring the public that full support is being offered to victims’ families.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also responded, calling the crash “absolutely devastating” and emphasizing that the full investigation could take time.
Chaos and Heartbreak in the Aftermath
Video clips taken from the crash site and inside hospitals show scenes of chaos and grief, with medics scrambling to treat victims and locals stunned by the unfolding disaster.
Parts of the aircraft were seen lodged in collapsed buildings, while emergency crews battled thick smoke and burning debris.
A Sobering Reminder
As the investigation continues, the tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of how fragile air travel can be — and how, in today’s digital age, even well-meaning social media posts can cause pain if timing goes unchecked.