Redcap*

I had just seen the lunchtime reports of the awful Air India crash when I spotted through the window a goldfinch perched on a cow parsley plant that I have saved from the mower. I snapped it through the glass. In art and literature these birds have long been associated with tragedy. 

I thought the expert who was interviewed on the news showed admirable restraint and refused to be drawn into conjecture about the possible causes of the crash. Being interested in aviation, I've spoken to my flying instructor son. He tells me that his students, who will soon be graduating to flying big jets, have speculated that a possible cause could be double engine failure after take-off. They think the ram air turbine was automatically deployed but there was no way it could save the aircraft. My son commented that it is a very 'electric' aircraft. His team-mate Ramesh, when he was working selling drugs to doctors whilst saving for his commercial pilot's licence, was a wonderfully dynamic man from Gujurat.

My thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible disaster. 

*John Clare's name for the goldfinch.