Air India made in-flight announcements on Thursday paying tribute to Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of the Tata Group, who breathed his last on Wednesday. Tata died at the age of 86 on Wednesday evening at Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai.

“It is with deep sadness that we receive the news of the death of Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, Mr. Ratan Tata. In addition to his many far-reaching and significant contributions, we are grateful to Mr. Tata for his immense contribution to Indian aviation and the Tata Group airlines. At Air India Express, we continue to be inspired and guided by his vision,” Air India Express said in a flight announcement to passengers.

Tata, a licensed pilot who occasionally flew the company aircraft, never married and was known for his relatively modest lifestyle and philanthropic work. He had been hospitalized in Mumbai since Monday, where the group was initially conducting routine, age-related examinations.

Despite reassuring the public that there was no cause for concern about his health, the group confirmed his death late Wednesday without revealing the cause of death.

Tributes poured in from around the world, highlighting his immense popularity that transcended borders and generations.

Ratan Tata was cremated with full state honor

Several business leaders, politicians and celebrities gathered with hundreds of others on Thursday to pay their last respects to Ratan Tata. His last rites were performed at Worli Crematorium in Mumbai with full state honors attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Congress leader and former Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde took part.

On Thursday, the Tata Group of Companies held a meeting to express condolences on the demise of Ratan Naval Tata. Senior executives of the Tata Group met for a meeting at the Center for Excellence.

“We are saddened by the passing of our beloved Mr. Ratan Tata, an extraordinary leader, visionary and philanthropist whose immeasurable contributions shaped not only the Tata Group but also the fabric of our nation,” the companies said in a joint message.

Suresh Sonthalia, national secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), called Ratan Tata a “true nationalist and philanthropist”.

In his condolence message, Sonthalia noted that Tata made generous contributions whenever India faced challenges, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In honor of Tata, Maharashtra and several other states declared a day of mourning and some official events, including a planned press conference by Goyal to mark his US visit, were canceled.