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A comedian’s touching post praising an Air India air hostess named Preeti wins hearts online, sparking a viral search as netizens try to find the mystery crew member
A moment of kindness takes flight
Renowned stand-up comedian Aditi Mittal recently shared a deeply personal story on social media—a tribute to a flight-attendant named Preeti, who comforted her during one of the toughest journeys of her life. What began as a candid Instagram post has since touched hearts and sparked a wider conversation online about compassion in unexpected places.
In the video, Mittal recounts flying from London to Mumbai in 2017 after the sudden death of her father. She described herself as visibly upset, and during the flight, a cabin-crew member named Preeti from Air India quietly stepped in. Mittal says Preeti offered tea, lemonade and warm water without prompting, and then encouraged Mittal to tell her one funny story about her father every time she passed by.
What followed was a notebook filled with goofy anecdotes about Mittal’s dad—stories that now bring solace when grief surfaces. “Wherever you are, Preeti, I hope you’re having the best Diwali in the world,” Mittal said in her post.
Why it struck a chord
There are several reasons why this story has resonated so widely:
- Raw human emotion: The story isn’t just about travel or celebrity—it’s about loss, vulnerability and unexpected kindness. That universality is powerful.
- Unsung heroism: The cabin-crew member’s gentleness is a reminder that service roles often involve emotional labour beyond their formal duties. Mittal even reflected that the term “air hostess” undersells what such crew members actually do.
- Digital amplification: In an era of viral content, this piece stands out for sincerity rather than spectacle. Users online commented things like: “Preeti was a better therapist than most ones I’ve come across.”
“This is literally the most heart-warming reel of the month for me. Let’s find Preeti!” - Corporate reflection: The story also prompts us to rethink the image of large organisations like Air India. Small acts of kindness within systems often become the meaningful human moments people remember.
The online reaction
Since Mittal’s post went live, the internet has responded in full force. Many tagged Air India, requesting that the airline help locate or publicly thank Preeti. Users embraced the idea that kindness in a high-stress job—like cabin-crew service during an international emergency flight (‘carrying grief’, so to speak)—should be spotlighted.
Social sentiment:
- Gratitude for empathy in unexpected places.
- Calls for recognising cabin-crew members as emotional support agents, not just service staff.
- People sharing their own stories of travel kindness—echoing the thread started by Mittal.
Implications for service culture
This story, though simple, has broader implications about service industries, empathy, and recognition:
- Training & awareness: Airlines and travel service providers increasingly recognise that emotional intelligence and human sensitivity are part of “excellent service”.
- Brand image & differentiation: When service organisations highlight stories like this, they do more than just market—they build trust.
- Employee recognition: Preeti’s gesture is the kind of behaviour companies might formally recognise—not just for employee morale, but for building customer loyalty.
- Passenger expectations: The public now expects more than just punctuality or comfort—they expect humanity. This raises the bar for all service interactions.
What happens next?
- Air India hasn’t officially identified or disclosed which crew-member “Preeti” is; people on social platforms continue to try to locate her.
- Mittal’s story may inspire airlines to ask: how do we highlight and replicate such empathy? Perhaps through training, awards, or customer feedback loops.
- For the public, it serves as a reminder: moments of care—even small ones—stick in our memory far more than big gestures.
A message for travellers
For anyone flying, especially in times of stress or urgency:
- Notice the people who serve you—not just their function, but their humanity.
- If someone helps you genuinely, a quick “thank you” might mean more than you realise.
- And if you are in service of others: this story shows how powerful it is to offer silent, attuned support rather than grand gestures.
Concluding thoughts
In a world busy with hashtags, headlines and theatrics, it’s this quiet story that stands out: a flight home, a grieving passenger, and a cabin-crew member who listened and offered solace with a seemingly simple prompt: “Tell me one funny story about him each time I pass.” That prompt transformed a plane ride into a healing space.
