The tragedy of Air India Flight 171 continues to send shockwaves through families and communities across continents, as the investigation into what caused the devastating crash moves forward under intense scrutiny.
What was meant to be a routine journey home for 242 people turned catastrophic on June 12, 2025, when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plunged to the ground just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, bound for London Gatwick. In those few minutes, 231 passengers, including two infants, and 11 crew members lost their lives. Only one man—Vishwash Kumar Ramesh—walked away.
The cause remains under investigation, but chilling details have begun to emerge. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 hours of flight experience, managed to radio a desperate final transmission:
“Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift!”
Nineteen seconds later, the plane disappeared from radar, crashing into a cluster of buildings and igniting a fireball that left nothing but wreckage behind. Among those lost were promising professionals, dedicated airline staff, beloved spouses, parents, and children.
One of the youngest members of the flight crew, First Officer Clive Kunder, was among the dead. A newly minted commercial pilot with over 1,100 flight hours, Clive had trained in Paris and was assisting on this flight. His tragic loss touched many, including actor Vikrant Massey, who revealed Clive was his cousin’s son.
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