Tears in Mumbai: Co-Pilot Clive Kunder’s Body Brought Home After Tragic Air India AI-171 Crash

News Flash

19 June

Crowds gather at Goregaon residence as the grieving family receives Clive Kunder’s mortal remains; 187 bodies identified so far from the Ahmedabad air crash

Mumbai: The body of Clive Kunder, the co-pilot of the ill-fated Air India AI-171 flight that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, was brought to his residence in Goregaon (West), Mumbai, early Thursday morning. The tragedy that shook the nation has now struck home for Kunder’s family, friends, and the aviation fraternity.

❝Clive’s body arrived at Mumbai airport at dawn and was directly taken to his family residence,❞ said a source close to the family.

Visuals from the site show heartbreaking scenes—a crowd gathered outside his home, with grief-stricken family members standing near his garlanded portrait, visibly shattered. Clive Kunder, a promising pilot, had been living with his parents in Goregaon.

Nation Mourns: Identification Process Ongoing

A week after the tragic crash, the process of identifying the deceased continues. According to Gujarat’s Health, Family Welfare, and Medical Education Minister Rushikesh Patel, DNA testing of all 210 victims is underway.

❝So far, 187 bodies have been positively identified and handed over to their families,❞ said Patel, adding that teams are working around the clock to complete the identification and return the remains to the grieving families.

The AI-171 crash is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in recent memory, with investigators still working to determine the technical and operational causes behind the fatal incident.

A Pilot Remembered, A Dream Cut Short

Friends and colleagues of Clive Kunder recall him as dedicated, passionate, and deeply committed to flying. His untimely death has sparked waves of sorrow across India’s aviation community.

❝He was among the best—disciplined, kind-hearted, and always calm under pressure. It’s hard to believe he’s gone,❞ said one of his former flight instructors.

As more families begin the painful rituals of mourning and farewell, the spotlight remains on Air India, DGCA, and aviation safety regulators. Calls for increased transparency and accountability in civil aviation are growing louder.