The aviation community and the nation are mourning the loss of First Officer Clive Kunder, a promising young pilot whose life was tragically cut short in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. Air India has paid a moving tribute to Kunder and the other 11 crew members who perished in the crash, acknowledging their spirit, service, and sacrifice. The tribute, shared internally and later on social media, described the crew as a family "united by wings."
Kunder, who was 32 years old, was assisting Captain Sumeet Sabharwal in the cockpit when the London-bound Air India flight AI-171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was carrying 242 passengers and crew. The crash claimed the lives of 241 people on board and 29 people on the ground after it crashed into a hostel building of BJ Medical College.
News of the disaster sent shockwaves through the aviation industry and the communities connected to those on board. Tributes poured in for the crew, especially First Officer Kunder, remembered for his professionalism, ambition, and warm personality.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Kunder had logged 1,100 hours of flying experience. Colleagues remembered him as meticulous, focused, and deeply passionate about flying. He had served as a pilot since 2012 and joined Air India in 2017. He was known for his discipline and calm presence in the cockpit. Those who knew him say he was just 400 hours short of the flight time needed to command a commercial aircraft.
Friends and family described Kunder as an "amazing human" who was "down to earth" and "always smiling." One friend said, "No ego. It's hard to digest that he's gone. He was a gem of a human. Such a young life cut short." Another friend, a doctor, recalled the disbelief upon hearing the news, "I got a call saying they might need medical help. Then I realised Clive was the first officer. I spoke to his sister. It didn't feel real." Another close friend said, "We used to work out and travel together. We're shattered. He was more than a friend - he was family."
Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey revealed on Instagram that Kunder was his cousin and expressed his devastation over the loss.
On Thursday, June 19, 2025, Kunder's mortal remains were brought to his home in Mumbai, where family, friends, and neighbors gathered to pay their final respects. The steady sound of drums and trumpets filled the air as the community mourned the young pilot. Wreaths, folded hands, and silent tears marked the quiet procession of visitors. The coffin, adorned with white and red flowers, was placed in the center of the courtyard before being briefly moved inside, where his parents, sister, and close relatives sat in silence beside it. Candles burned near a framed photo of Kunder in a cockpit. His last rites were held at the Sewri Christian Cemetery.
As investigations into the crash continue, the memory of First Officer Clive Kunder remains a beacon of promise and a reminder of the dedication and sacrifice of those who serve in the aviation industry. His warmth, humility, and passion for flying will be remembered by all who knew him, both in the skies and on the ground.
