British woman Varsha Maisuria is still missing in Bay of Banderas off the coast at Las Glorias Beach, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, after a plane crash during a skydiving incident, which saw Varsha entangled with the aircraft’s undercarriage. Subsequently a parachute deployed which caused the loss of the aircraft over sea, resulting in it sinking to a depth believed to be 1000 meters.
The family is trying to raise awareness to bring Varsha back to her family. They are also in touch with the Foreign Commonwealth Office, where Varsha worked as a civil servant. In a statement the Maisuria family told Asian Voice, “Our sister, Varsha Maisuria, went to Mexico on holiday and involved in a Skydiving Accident. We are trying to raise awareness through media channels to ensure Varsha is bought back to her family.”
At Mexico, during her holiday, Varsha had joined a group on a tandem sky diving trip when an incident occurred on board and caused the plane to crash in to the sea. The pilot and 2 members of the group have been found alive but Varsha and the remaining group member, Robin Nicole Ballachey a US Citizen are still missing.
Local search and rescue teams, Protección Civil JAL, are continuing with the investigation and have informedthe family that the plane has been located but is 1000m under the water and operations may require deep sea diving equipment.
The family added, “We are desperate that all efforts continue under all circumstances such that our sister can come back home to the family.
“We are being assisted by the FCO and the Lucie Blackman Trust, charitable organisation specialising in supporting families of missing persons abroad. Our number priority is search and rescue and ensuring the local authorities, FCO and the Lucie Blackman Trust are supporting us to bring Varsha back home. The US Consulate/Embassy via Robin's family are also raising awareness through all possible angles and would appreciate any help you could provide to keep this story alive ensuring that everyone possible is looking for her.”
Her brother, who did not want to be named said, “Varsha was the only daughter and the eldest child and sister in our family. She was a passionate traveller and was looking forward to completing the skydive. We are absolutely distraught at what happened. It is beyond our worst nightmare. We miss her desperately and want her to come back home to the family under any circumstances.”
He further added, “We were in complete shock and disbelief when were informed of the events. You never expect these things happen to your family. You could never even imagine such a tragedy in the circumstances that unfolded. The fact that Varsha is still missing is extremely painful.”
