The identities of the captain and first officer aboard the ill-fated Air India flight, which tragically crashed shortly after takeoff en route to London, have been revealed. According to reports by News18 and The Hindustan Times, the aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar as his co-pilot.
Bollywood star Vikrant Massey shared a heartfelt tribute on his Instagram Stories, confirming that his cousin, Kunder, was indeed the first officer on Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that met its untimely demise on Thursday, June 12, mere moments after taking off. "My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of those who perished in the unimaginably heart-wrenching air crash in Ahmedabad today," Massey penned. "It grieves me deeply to learn that my uncle, Clifford Kunder, has lost his son, Clive, who was the first officer on that fateful flight. May God grant you and your family, uncle, as well as all those deeply affected, the strength to endure this tragedy," he added.
Kundar possessed over 1,100 hours of flight experience, while Sabharwal boasted an impressive 8,200 hours, as per The Economic Times. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson issued a statement via X, stating that Flight AI171 was "en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it was involved in an accident shortly after takeoff."
At the time of the crash, the plane was carrying 230 passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, along with 12 crew members. The Associated Press reported that the crash occurred in a residential area at around 1:43 p.m. local time, just five minutes after takeoff.
Disturbing footage captured the plane plunging towards the ground before erupting into a massive ball of fire. Photos from the scene depict widespread devastation and the aftermath of the fiery inferno.
Amidst the sorrow, one glimmer of hope emerged as a 40-year-old British man named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh miraculously survived the crash, according to local media. "Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud bang, and then the plane came crashing down," he recounted from his hospital bed to The Times. "It all happened so fast."
As of now, no details have been disclosed regarding the cause of the crash or the number of fatalities. An investigation is currently underway to unravel the mystery behind this tragic event.
In his statement, Wilson assured that Air India is "actively collaborating with the authorities in all emergency response efforts." Additionally, a helpline has been established for friends and family affected by the crash. "This is an incredibly difficult day for all of us at Air India, and our sole focus is on addressing the needs of our passengers, crew members, and their families," Wilson emphasized. He further stated, "We understand the urgency for information. Rest assured, we will share accurate and timely updates as soon as they become available. However, we owe it to everyone involved to report only factual information and refrain from speculation."
