Tom Fletcher has apologised after sharing a social media update about air travel on the same day as a deadly Air India crash that killed more than 240 people.
The McFly singer, 39, posted to his Instagram Stories on Thursday about boarding a flight, just hours after news broke that a Gatwick-bound plane had crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat, India.
The aircraft was carrying 242 passengers, including 53 British nationals, and the disaster has since sparked international mourning.
Fletcher deleted the post soon after and issued a statement acknowledging the timing was inappropriate.
“Sorry, I’ve only just seen the terrible news about the Air India crash,” he wrote. “So awful.
“Had I known earlier, I obviously wouldn’t have posted about my flight today. I understand why that must have looked insensitive and have deleted it.”
He then thanks his fans for informing him of the news and shared his sympathies with those affected.
“Thanks for letting me know. My whole heart goes out to everyone involved in the crash and all their friends & families.”
His apology came just hours after Mark Wright has issued an apology for sharing a social media post deemed “insensitive” in the wake of the deadly Air India crash.
The former TOWIE star, 38, uploaded a photograph to Instagram showing him, wife Michelle Keegan and their baby daughter Palma posing in front of a private jet, joking about cramped plane seating. The caption read: “One day babe, for now we’ll take row 26 with no extra leg room.”
The post was uploaded on the same day as a tragic crash involving a Gatwick-bound Air India flight, which went down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat. The aircraft was carrying 242 passengers, including 53 British nationals.
Wright swiftly deleted the image and explained it had been scheduled in advance of the tragedy. Taking to his Instagram Stories, he wrote: “I apologise for a post I just put up on my page after today’s heartbreaking events. I have posts from a holiday that are on the scheduled setting, which go out on future days I have set them for which was done last week.
“It’s a horrendous coincidence that today’s post was on such a devastating day.
“Once I logged into my Instagram and realised the post had gone out, I immediately deleted. My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected from today. I’m sorry for this mistake and any offence caused.”
The original upload had prompted criticism from followers, with one commenting: “Probably not the best day to post this when so many people lost their lives on a plane.”
The Standard has contacted Mark Wright and Tom Fletcher’s reps for comment.
Investigations have begun into the crash involving an Air India flight to London Gatwick which came down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport.
Flight AI171, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday after sending a mayday signal to air traffic control.
Air India confirmed there was only one survivor - UK national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh - out of the 242 people on board the plane when it crashed into housing for medical students.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, said: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us.
“It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.”
