Air India crash: mortal remains of co-pilot Clive Kunder brought home to Mumbai

ANI June 19, 2025 303 views

The mortal remains of Air India co-pilot Clive Kunder were brought back to his Mumbai home as grieving family and friends paid their respects. Actor Vikrant Massey shared an emotional tribute, revealing Kunder was his family friend and first officer on the ill-fated flight. The crash, which killed 241 people including former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, has prompted stricter aviation safety proposals. Authorities are investigating while Air India and Tata Group announced compensation for victims' families.

"It pains even more to know that my uncle lost his son Clive, who was the 1st officer on that fateful flight." – Vikrant Massey
Mumbai, June 19: The mortal remains of Clive Kunder, the co-pilot of the Air India AI-171 flight which crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, were brought to his home in Mumbai on Thursday.

Key Points

1

Clive Kunder's body arrives in Mumbai after AI-171 crash

2

Actor Vikrant Massey mourns family friend's death

3

Tragedy kills 241, including ex-CM Vijay Rupani

4

New aviation safety rules proposed post-crash

Visuals from his residence showed a crowd of people gathered at his place while his family stood in front of his portrait and mourned their tragic loss.

Kunder lived with his mother and father in the Goregaon (West) area. His body arrived earlier today at Mumbai Airport and was transported to his residence.

Earlier on June 12, the day of the accident, Actor Vikrant Massey offered condolences and said that Kunder was his "family friend."

In an Instagram post, Vikrant offered condolences to the victims and their families, revealing Clive was the first officer on "that fateful" AI171 flight, which crashed minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

"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," he expressed grief.

On June 12, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat's Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

After the accident, an inquiry into the accident is underway, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ordering enhanced safety checks on Air India's 787-8/9 Dreamliner fleet and the Tata group, the owner of Air India, along with the airline company has announced a total of Rs 1.25 crore compensation to the families of the victims.

A week after the Air India crash in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has released new draft rules to tighten control over structures that pose a risk to aircraft safety.

The rules aim to give authorities the power to take prompt action against buildings and trees that exceed height limits in designated aerodrome zones. This is seen as a proactive step to prevent potential accidents caused by obstructions in flight paths.

Reader Comments

P
Priya M.
Heartbreaking to see such young lives lost. Clive was just starting his career as a pilot. 😔 The aviation ministry must ensure such tragedies never happen again. My deepest condolences to all affected families.
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Rahul K.
The compensation amount seems too little for such a massive loss of life. Air India should reconsider - 1.25 crore divided among 241 families comes to just ~50k per family. Is that the value we place on Indian lives?
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Ananya S.
So tragic to see the young pilot's portrait surrounded by grieving parents. As someone from Mumbai, I know Goregaon well - can't imagine the pain in that neighborhood today. The new safety rules are welcome but came too late for these souls.
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Sanjay V.
Why was a hostel complex allowed to be built so close to the airport flight path? This reeks of negligence and corruption in urban planning. Heads must roll for this - not just compensation but criminal charges.
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Neha P.
The pain in Vikrant Massey's post is palpable. When celebrities share personal grief like this, it reminds us that tragedy doesn't discriminate. May Clive and all victims find peace. 🙏 The investigation must be thorough and transparent.
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Karan D.
While the new draft rules are good, implementation is key. We've seen many such regulations after past accidents, but enforcement remains weak. Hope this time will be different. My heart goes out to the Kunder family - losing a son in his prime is every parent's nightmare.

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Tags:
Air India crash Clive Kunder Mumbai Vijay Rupani Vikrant Massey AI-171 aviation safety