Bhavye Suneja's family in Mayur Vihar, Phase-I was joyously preparing for its annual family reunion at Diwali as it awaited its son's arrival next week. Instead, an eerie silence took over on Monday after Bhavya, 31, the low-cost Lion Air pilot in-charge of the Boeing 737, crashed into the sea while operating a domestic flight from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang.

Now, the family has rushed to Jakarta to console his wife of two years and bring back the remains of their son, who was confirmed dead by the Indian Embassy in Jakarta.

After hearing of the crash, the grief-stricken family of three — father, mother and sister — was immediately thrust into media spotlight while relatives and friends also came visiting.

According to a relative, Bhavya received his pilot's license in 2009. "He worked as a trainee pilot with Emirates Airline from September 2010 to December 2010, before he started working with Lion Air in March 2011," the relative said.

Bhavya's father Gulshan owns a medicine business, while his mother Sangeeta is a senior manager with Air India. He was supposed to come home for Diwali with wife Garima Sethi, a former manager at Indian Express.

Amithabh Gupta, who lives next door, said Gulshan had told them that Bhavya and Sethi were scheduled to come home by November 4-5. "The couple got married around two years ago and live in Jakarta as Bhavya had been working there since 2011. We got to know about this tragedy through news. I spoke to the family. They are going to Jakarta to support Garima," said Gupta.

Locals meanwhile, said they were shocked at this sudden tragedy. "I have seen him grow up since he was very young and was like my own son. We are yet to digest the news. I can understand what Gulshan must be going through," said Chandrakala Gupta, another neighbour.