Actor Vikrant Massey mourns cousin and Air India co-pilot Clive Kunder killed in Ahmedabad crash

Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey has expressed profound grief over the tragic demise of his cousin, Clive Kunder, who was the co-pilot of the ill-fated Air India flight AI171 that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, claiming over 200 lives.

Taking to Instagram, Massey shared an emotional tribute:

“My heart breaks for the families and loved ones of those 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 first officer on that fateful flight. May God give strength to you and your family, uncle, and to all deeply affected.”

Clive Kunder, who served as the First Officer on board the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, had accumulated over 1,100 hours of flying experience. He was part of a seasoned cockpit crew that also included Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 flying hours.

Flight AI171, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm IST. The aircraft issued a distress “MAYDAY” call before disappearing from radar and crashing into a government hospital hostel in the Meghaninagar area. The impact created a fiery explosion, leaving a trail of destruction and loss.

Among the deceased were three medical students, while several others sustained critical injuries, confirmed Dr. Mehul Shah of the Indian Medical Association’s Gujarat chapter.

Authorities from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the crash, now considered one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent times.