Mark Wright has issued an apology after facing considerable backlash for an Instagram post that coincided with the tragic Air India plane crash on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The former TOWIE star and Heart Radio presenter was vacationing in Spain with his wife, Michelle Keegan, and their three-month-old daughter, Palma, and other family members. The family has already returned to the UK.
The now-deleted post featured a photo of Wright, Keegan, and their daughter posing in front of a private jet. The caption, according to reports, alluded to the lack of legroom typically experienced on commercial flights, with Wright writing: "One day babe, for now we'll take row 26 with no extra leg room." This seemingly lighthearted jab at flying economy was uploaded just hours after news broke of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, bound for Gatwick Airport in London.
The Air India flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was carrying 242 passengers, including 53 British nationals. The aircraft reportedly lost contact with air traffic control just seconds after takeoff at approximately 1:40 PM local time, crashing in a densely populated area of Ahmedabad. The devastating incident has resulted in a significant loss of life, with initial reports indicating over 260 fatalities. As of today, 204 bodies have been recovered, and the search for more continues.
Wright's followers were quick to point out the unfortunate timing of his post, deeming it insensitive in light of the tragedy. Comments such as "Prob not the best day to post this when so many people lost their lives on a plane," and "Not really appropriate to put this up after today's plane crash," flooded his social media feed.
Responding to the criticism, Wright promptly removed the post and issued an apology via his Instagram Stories. He explained that the post had been pre-scheduled as part of a series from his holiday and that he was unaware of the Air India crash when it was automatically published.
In his statement, Wright expressed his remorse, stating, "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." He emphasized that the timing was a "horrendous coincidence" and that he deleted the post as soon as he realized the gravity of the situation. "It's a horrendous coincidence that today's post was on such a devastating day. Once I logged in to my Instagram and realized the post had gone out, I immediately deleted it," he wrote.
Wright concluded his apology by extending his sympathies to those affected by the disaster, saying, "My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected from today. I'm sorry for this mistake and any offence caused."
The Air India crash has prompted widespread grief and condolences. King Charles III shared a heartfelt message, expressing his shock and sadness, offering "prayers and deepest possible sympathies" to all those affected during this "heartbreaking and traumatic time".
