Thursday¡¯s horrifying crash of an Air India Dreamliner in Ahmedabad claimed 241 lives out of the 242 on board. While the country grapples with the magnitude of the loss, the names and stories of the 12 crew members¡ªeach with a life, a family, and dreams, are now surfacing, bringing heart-wrenching human faces to the tragedy.
Sixty-year-old Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the most senior member of the crew, was just a few months away from hanging up his wings. With over 8,200 flying hours, he had served decades in Indian aviation and was known for his professionalism and calm demeanour in the cockpit. He lived in Powai¡¯s Jalvayu Vihar with his elderly father. His death, so close to retirement, has left family and friends devastated.
Clive Kunder, with 1,100 hours of flight experience, was the first officer on board. He was also a relative of actor Vikrant Massey, whose emotional tribute described Clive as the son of his uncle Clifford Kunder. Massey expressed deep sorrow over the loss, calling it "an unimaginably tragic" event. Clive's passing has brought the shock of the tragedy into the homes of many who knew him personally and through the actor¡¯s words.
Roshni Rajendra Songhare, a young flight attendant and travel influencer from Dombivli, was also among the victims. With over 54,000 followers on Instagram, she had built a life around wanderlust and skyward dreams. Her social media was filled with vibrant travel diaries, now frozen in time. Maharashtra MLA Ravindra Chavan confirmed her death, describing it as an ¡°unbearable tragedy¡± for her family and community.
Deepak Pathak, a long-serving crew member from Badlapur, had been with Air India for 11 years. Hours before the crash, he called his mother to wish her a good morning¡ªa seemingly routine gesture that would become a final memory. Deepak, married and one of five siblings, was deeply loved by his family. His sister recalled how their mother would often wonder where he was, always hoping he was safe.
Saineeta Chakravarty, 35, had recently joined Air India after working with Go Air. A resident of Santacruz West, she had been excited to start this new phase of her career. Her mother, unable to accept her daughter¡¯s death, clung to hope even after the news was confirmed, asking people to ¡°let her come home first.¡±
Nganthoi Sharma, from Manipur, was one of three sisters and served as a cabin crew member on AI171. Her family, unaware of her fate for hours, kept calling her until the phone battery likely drained. Her eldest sister works in a private school, while the youngest is in Class 9. Their home is now filled with unimaginable silence.
The rest of the cabin crew included Shradha Dhavan, Aparna Mahadik, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Lamnunthem Singson, and Manisha Thapa. All were integral parts of Air India¡¯s cabin operations, dedicated professionals whose journeys were cut tragically short.
As investigations continue and the lone survivor, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, recovers, India reflects on the service and sacrifice of these twelve individuals. They were not just crew, they were sons, daughters, siblings, partners, and friends. The uniforms they wore now carry the weight of a nation¡¯s grief.