Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey revealed on Thursday evening that his cousin, First Officer Clive Kunder, was among the deceased. Kunder was serving as co-pilot on the Flight AI171, which crashed minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Massey took to his Instagram story and shared his grief. “My heart breaks for the families & loved ones of the ones who lost their lives in the unimaginably tragic air crash in Ahmedabad today,” he wrote. “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.” The “12th Fail” actor extended his condolences, adding, “May God give strength to you and your family, uncle, and to all deeply affected.”
The devastating incident unfolded on Thursday, June 12, when the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, crashed just minutes after its 1:38 PM takeoff. Bound for London, the flight reportedly issued a “mayday” call by 1:39 PM before plummeting into a building near the airport, resulting in a fiery crash and widespread destruction. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also among those who tragically lost their lives.
Dramatic visuals from the crash site, showing the aircraft engulfed in flames, have gone viral across social media platforms, underscoring the severity of the disaster.
Amid the widespread devastation, a single survivor has been identified. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 38-year-old passenger, miraculously endured the crash. A video showing him walking injured from the site and recounting the terrifying moments has surfaced online, quickly gaining viral traction. Despite visible injuries, Ramesh was able to survive the deadly mishap, providing a vital first-hand account of the tragedy.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed significant resources, with three teams from Gandhinagar and three additional teams from Vadodara actively engaged in ongoing rescue operations at the site.