New job claimed Joen Saldanha’s life

DHNS

Moodbidri, 26 May 2010: The new job put him on this ill-fated flight which crashed in Mangalore on Saturday. Joen Saldanha (28) was returning home to renew his visa and his journey to native was his last journey.

Saldanha had completed BCom from Pompei College in Aikala and had taken training in software networking in NITK. For few months, he had worked in MRPL. He was the former president of ICYM, Niddodi. He was a friendly person, according to his friends.

He had dreamt of starting self-employment after working in Gulf country for five years. He had been to Dubai on visiting visa and as expected he had job offer in Dubai and was about to join for duty in June. However, as his visa period had ended, he had to return home for the renewal of the visa.

He had called Niddodi Priest Joseph Lobo and informed that he will be meeting him on Sunday. However, he met the Priest in his coffin. The funeral was held on Monday evening, which was attended by large number of relatives, friends.

 Joel Prathap D’Souza indecisive on AI job offer

Mangalore, 26 May 2010: Joel Prathap D’Souza is yet to decide whether he should accept the offer made by Air India. 

One of the survivors of the air crash in Mangalore on Saturday, Joel was appreciated by the CMD of Air India Aravind Jadav for his heroic efforts in saving himself and his co-passengers on the fateful flight. When he came to know that Joel went to Dubai in search of a job, Jadav even offered him a job citing that “Air India need such people”.

Now recuperating at KMC Hospital in the city, Joel is indecisive whether to accept the offer or not. He has postponed the decision for later, after he is discharged from the hospital. “It is a good offer and Joel being a machinist has scope in Air India. But now he is suffering from a minor spinal injury incurred when he jumped out of the flight. We will decide on the offer once he is out of the hospital,” Joel’s sister Saira told Deccan Herald.

It may be noted that Joel was the first person to jump out of the crashed aircraft. Despite an injury on his leg, he ran to the nearby railway line where he met some people in a car. He directed them to the crash site. From there he went straight to the airport on his friend’s bike and informed about the mishap.

His presence of mind saved 5 other passengers, who are now recuperating in various hospitals in the city.  Earlier, the official AI spokesperson informed Deccan Herald that Air India is serious about the job offer and that there is nothing between Joel and a job if he is ready for it. Will Mangalore’s new found hero stay back?