The identities of the captain and first officer aboard the ill-fated Air India flight, which crashed shortly after takeoff en route to London, have been revealed. According to reports by News18 and The Hindustan Times, the aircraft was being piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar as his co-pilot.
Bollywood star Vikrant Massey shared a heartfelt post 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 tragic end moments after lifting off on June 12th. "My heart aches for the families and loved ones of those who perished in the unimaginably devastating air crash in Ahmedabad today," Massey penned. "It grieves me deeply to learn that my uncle, Clifford Kunder, has lost his son, Clive Kundar, who was the first officer on that fateful journey," he continued. "May God grant you and your family, uncle, as well as all those deeply impacted, the strength to endure."
Kundar had accumulated 1,100 hours of flight experience, whereas Sabharwal boasted an impressive 8,200 hours, as per The Economic Times.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson issued a statement, shared 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, there were 230 passengers on board, comprising 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, accompanied by 12 crew members.
The Associated Press reported that the crash occurred in a residential area at approximately 1:43 p.m. local time, merely five minutes after takeoff. Footage captured the plane plunging towards the earth before being engulfed in a massive, fiery explosion. Photos from the scene depicted widespread devastation and the aftermath of the blaze.
Miraculously, one individual, a 40-year-old British man named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived the crash, according to local media. Speaking from his hospital bed to The Times, he recounted, "Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud bang, and then the plane crashed. It all transpired so swiftly."
No information has yet been disclosed regarding the cause of the crash or the number of fatalities. An investigation is currently underway.
In his statement, Wilson assured that Air India is "actively collaborating with authorities in all emergency response efforts." Additionally, a helpline has been established for friends and family affected by the tragedy. "This is an exceptionally challenging day for all of us at Air India," Wilson emphasized. "Our focus is solely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, and their families and loved ones."
He further added, "We acknowledge the public's eagerness for information. Please be assured that we will provide accurate and timely updates as soon as possible. However, it is imperative that our reports are factual and not speculative. We owe this to everyone involved."
