In a devastating turn of events, an Air India flight bound for London crashed in Ahmedabad just minutes after taking off at 1:38 PM IST on June 12. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171, went down in the Meghaninagar area near the airport, claiming over 200 lives.The aircraft was carrying 242 people on board, including passengers and crew. Air India confirmed that the flight had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens. The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with 8,200 hours of flying experience. Assisting him in the cockpit was First Officer Clive Kunder, who had logged 1,100 hours of flying time.Vikrant Massey reveals personal loss: ‘My heart breaks’The entertainment fraternity joined the chorus of grief, with many celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Aamir Khan sharing messages of support for the families affected. Among them, actor Vikrant Massey expressed his anguish on Instagram, revealing that the tragedy hit close to home.“My heart breaks for the families & loved ones of the ones who lost their lives in the unimaginably tragic air crash in Ahmedabad today. It pains even more to know that my uncle, Clifford Kunder lost his son, Clive Kunder who was the 1st officer operating on that fateful flight. May God give strength to you and your family uncle and to all deeply affected.”
Global shockwaves and ongoing rescue effortsThe crash has sent shockwaves worldwide, prompting immediate rescue and relief efforts at the crash site. Emergency services rushed to the scene, battling fire and debris in a densely populated residential zone.Aviation authorities and forensic teams are now on-site, working to identify victims and determine the cause of the crash. Early reports suggest a possible engine malfunction, but a full investigation is underway.
As news of the crash spread, condolence messages from citizens, public figures, and celebrities poured in on social media. Hashtags like #AirIndiaCrash and #PrayForAhmedabad trended throughout the day, as people mourned the unimaginable loss of life.
