Tributes are flooding in for This Morning star Fiongal Greenlaw and his husband Jamie Meek, who are among the 241 people who lost their lives in the Air India plane crash.
Greenlaw, 39, and Meek, 45, had been holidaying in India on a ten-day wellness retreat and were on their way back to the UK when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner tragically went down just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
A mayday call was issued shortly after takeoff, and the aircraft, which was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed into a residential building. Authorities later confirmed that 241 people had tragically died, with just one sole survivor pulled from the wreckage.
Former This Morning editor Martin Frizell was among the first to pay tribute to the late British couple.
Posting a photo of Greenlaw on set with hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, he wrote: "So, so sad to hear that Fiongal Greenlaw Meek and his partner are reported to be among the passengers and crew killed today on board the Air India flight bound for Gatwick."
"I remember his visit to the studio in January, he was passionate about auras, and although I’m a sceptical sort, his vibrancy and sheer enthusiasm won folk over," he continued.
"And I know for a fact that he hoped to use his appearance on This Morning to build his Wellness brand; he had a great future ahead of him. Thoughts are with his family and friends and those of his partner Jamie," Frizell concluded.
Greenlaw, a former fashion designer turned spiritual guide, and Meek, a holistic coach, co-founded The Wellness Foundry, a thriving brand known for tarot and psychic readings, Reiki, and spiritual coaching.
The business gained recognition, working with clients like Netflix, Google, and Dior. Jamie joined the company in 2023, expanding its reach and services.
Greenlaw appeared on This Morning twice this year - once in January and another time in April.
Following one of his appearances, he took to Instagram to say: “Thank you to everyone [at] This Morning for being so amazing and guiding me through. Thank you to [Cat and Ben] for being so kind and welcoming.”
"Such an honour to bring spiritual hygiene into mainstream spaces — and show how accessible and beneficial it can be," he added.
On Friday (June 13), This Morning opened with a tribute from hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond.
“Sadly, one of those believed to have lost his life is Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek,” O’Leary said. “Fiongal appeared on This Morning twice this year. We loved the energy he brought to the studio. Fiongal was on board the plane with his husband Jamie.”
Hammond added: “Of the 242 people on board, 241 lost their lives, including 52 from the UK, making it the worst aviation disaster involving British nationals since the 9/11 attacks.”
In a haunting social media video posted just before boarding the doomed flight, the couple stood smiling in Ahmedabad airport.
“We are at the airport, just boarding. Goodbye India. Ten-hour flight back to England,” Greenlaw says in the clip. When he asks his partner for his biggest takeaway from the trip, Greenlaw jokes, “I don’t know,” prompting laughter from Greenlaw: “Thanks for your contribution.”
The video ends with Greenlaw sharing his own insight, “Don’t lose your patience with your partner,” as Meek replies with a smile, “You snapped at me at the airport for having chai.”
Fiongal laughs and signs off, saying they were headed home “happily, happily calm.”
Per The Independent, Meek's brother, Nick, shared the family’s devastation: “We were expecting him home tonight. He should have landed at 6.30PM and then driven up for about 11 to get his dog, who is staying with our mum. She is not in a good way. It’s all very raw for her at the moment.”
Nick explained that Greenlaw and Meek, who married in 2022 and lived in Ramsgate, Kent, had gone to the South Asian country as a couple for the first time, having previously traveled separately for work.
The loss of the pair has reverberated through their personal and professional circles. Former Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing shared on Instagram: “I will miss you, dear friend. A wonderful human with a wonderful soul," cited by The Mirror.
Fellow cast member Alex Mytton wrote: “Our lovely friends Fiongal & Jamie were very sadly killed yesterday in the plane crash in India.”
Our thoughts are with the couple's loved ones at this time.