Mangaluru-origin pilot among crew killed in Air India crash near Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, June 12: First Officer Clive Kunder, who hails from Mangaluru and was a resident of Mumbai, was among the crew members aboard the Air India flight AI 171 that tragically crashed in a residential area near Meghaninagar in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, shortly after take-off.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner had departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM en route to London. Just about five minutes into the flight, the aircraft went down, leading to a devastating crash that claimed at least 133 lives. The flight was carrying 232 passengers—including two infants—and 12 crew members, making a total of 242 people on board.
Clive Kunder had completed his pilot training at Paris Air Inc. and had clocked around 1,100 hours of flying experience. He was assisting Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 hours of flight experience. Both were in the cockpit when the aircraft encountered trouble and crashed.
There were unconfirmed reports suggesting that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also on the passenger manifest, reportedly listed as passenger number 12. However, authorities are yet to confirm his presence on board.
Following the crash, flames engulfed the aircraft wreckage, with thick black smoke visible from several kilometres away. Emergency services, including the fire department, responded promptly. Fire Officer Jayesh Khadia confirmed that fire tenders were dispatched immediately to control the blaze and assist in rescue operations.
Senior cabin crew on duty included Shradha Dhavan and Aparna Mahadik. Other crew members identified were Saineeta Chakravarti, Nganthoi Kongbrailatpam Sharma, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Lamnunthem Singson, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has deployed a dedicated investigation team to probe the incident. The team includes the Director of Airworthiness, Assistant Director of Airworthiness, and a Flight Operations Inspector—who were already in Ahmedabad at the time of the incident.
Meanwhile, operations at the Ahmedabad airport have been suspended until further notice. "All flight operations at SVPIA are temporarily suspended," an airport spokesperson said.
The exact cause of the crash remains unknown. Rescue and recovery operations continue at the crash site, as authorities work to identify victims and offer support to grieving families.
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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
