CAN YOU TELL WHAT ALL THESE PEOPLE HAD IN COMMON? They saw no way out.
Most of us have bad days. The kind where everything feels heavy. Maybe we go for a walk, call a friend, or just sleep it off. We step back from the edge.
But what if you’re a pilot? And that edge is at 300 feet high?
The chilling truth about the recent Air India 787 incident is becoming clear: it wasn’t the plane that failed — it was likely one of the pilots. A veteran and a first officer were in the cockpit. The aircraft was perfect. But within seconds of takeoff, both engines were manually shut down using fuel cutoff switches — switches that require deliberate, multi-step effort to activate.
The plane fell from the sky.
Authorities aren’t saying much yet, but we know this: aviation psychologists have been called in. Cockpit voice recordings reveal confusion… or denial. One pilot asked, “Why did you do that?” The other replied, “I didn’t.”
But someone did.
It takes intention to do what was done. And while most pilots are heroes — professionals dedicated to safety — it only takes one to turn a plane into a weapon.
As planes become safer, the human in the cockpit becomes the weakest link. And this incident is a harsh reminder that mental health isn’t optional — not for you, not for me, and certainly not for those responsible for hundreds of lives in the air.
So today, remember: check in on your strong friends. Especially the ones with heavy responsibilities. Especially the ones flying the plane.
PERSONAL NOTE: IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE – EVEN YOU!
It can happen to anyone — at any age, from any background, in any social class. And tragically, it happens far more often than we realize.
Personal story: There were a couple of times during COVID when I randomly found myself thinking about suicide. It caught me completely off guard. One day, I was just looking in the mirror, and the thought crossed my mind. I stopped and said to myself, “Wait—what is going on?”
It happened again later, and that’s when I started digging deeper. Turns out, the medication I was taking listed suicidal thoughts as a possible side effect. Imagine that—something meant to help was actually pushing me toward the edge.
Our bodies are like chemical computers. Anything we put into them—whether food, medication, or even stress—can shift the balance in ways we don’t always see coming. It’s a reminder to stay aware, ask questions, and never ignore the signals your mind and body are giving you.
I’ve known six people who have taken their own lives. On the outside, they seemed fine — healthy, successful, and financially stable. But inside, they were struggling. They withdrew. They stopped talking. And one day, they were gone. Most left behind notes for their loved ones, often saying the same haunting thing: “I saw no way out.”
So if you notice someone pulling away — anyone — ask them how they’re really doing. Invite them to talk. Let them know you care, and that their problems are not too heavy to share. You might not have all the answers, but sometimes just being there can help someone step back from the edge.
Below is a list of well-known people who died by suicide. Some cases are confirmed, others still debated. Many had everything most people dream of — fame, fortune, talent — yet inside, they carried deep pain. It’s a reminder that mental health struggles don’t always look the way we expect.
Let’s be kind. Let’s be present. Let’s not wait until it’s too late.
🕯️ Famous People Who Died by Suicide
🎭 Entertainers & Artists
- Robin Williams – Comedian and actor known for Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire (2014)
- Kurt Cobain – Nirvana frontman and grunge icon (1994)
- Chester Bennington – Lead singer of Linkin Park (2017)
- Chris Cornell – Singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave (2017)
- Anthony Bourdain – Celebrity chef and travel documentarian (2018)
- Avicii (Tim Bergling) – Swedish EDM DJ and producer (2018)
- Alexander McQueen – British fashion designer (2010)
- David Foster Wallace – Novelist, Infinite Jest (2008)
- Marilyn Monroe – Actress and icon (1962; ruled suicide, widely debated)
- Jonathan Brandis – Child actor, SeaQuest DSV (2003)
- Tony Scott – Director of Top Gun and Man on Fire (2012)
- Caroline Flack – UK TV presenter and Love Island host (2020)
- Simone Battle – Singer, G.R.L. and X Factor contestant (2014)
- Jiah Khan – Bollywood actress (2013)
- Brad Bufanda – Actor known for Veronica Mars (2017)
- Freddie Prinze Sr. – Comedian and actor, father of Freddie Prinze Jr. (1977)
- Dana Plato – Actress from Diff’rent Strokes (1999)
- Sawyer Sweeten – Child actor, Everybody Loves Raymond (2015)
- Mark Salling – Actor, Glee (2018)
- Bob Crane – Actor, Hogan’s Heroes (1978; murdered, but often grouped with tragic deaths)
- George Reeves – Actor, Superman TV series (1959; ruled suicide, suspected murder by many)
📚 Writers, Poets, & Philosophers
- Sylvia Plath – Poet and author of The Bell Jar (1963)
- Ernest Hemingway – Author of The Old Man and the Sea, Nobel Prize winner (1961)
- Virginia Woolf – English modernist writer (1941)
- David Edward Hughes – Inventor and scientist (1900; less confirmed, often cited)
- Hunter S. Thompson – Journalist and author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (2005)
- Yukio Mishima – Japanese author and nationalist; died by ritual suicide (1970)
- Stefan Zweig – Austrian novelist; died in exile during WWII (1942)
- Ryūnosuke Akutagawa – Japanese short story writer, Rashomon (1927)
🌍 Public Figures & Political Leaders
- Adolf Hitler – Nazi dictator of Germany (1945)
- Eva Braun – Partner of Hitler (1945)
- Erwin Rommel – German general; suicide under pressure (1944)
- Mark Antony – Roman general and politician (30 BC)
- Cleopatra – Queen of Egypt; suicide with Antony (30 BC)
- Slobodan Praljak – Bosnian Croat general; drank poison in court (2017)
- Alan Turing – Codebreaker and father of computer science (1954; widely accepted as suicide, though debated)
🧠 Entrepreneurs, Tech & Business
- Jody Sherman – Tech entrepreneur, founder of Ecomom (2013)
- Aaron Swartz – Internet activist and co-founder of Reddit (2013)
- Ilya Zhitomirskiy – Co-founder of Diaspora social network (2011)
🏅 Athletes & Sports Figures
- Junior Seau – NFL player (2012; linked to CTE)
- Tyler Hilinski – College football quarterback (2018)
- Robert Enke – German national soccer team goalkeeper (2009)
- Kenny McKinley – NFL wide receiver (2010)
- Wade Belak – NHL player (2011)
⚠️ Notes on Tragedy and Awareness:
- Many of these individuals battled depression, substance abuse, PTSD, or public pressure.
- Their stories highlight the critical need for mental health support, destigmatization, and honest conversations — even among the highly accomplished or seemingly joyful.
OUR HEARTS AND PRAYS GO TO THE FAMILIES OF AIR INDIA and everyone involved.
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