Tragic End for Indian Family of Five in Air India Flight 171 Crash

AHMEDABAD, India — June 13, 2025 — What began as a long-awaited family reunion turned into a national tragedy when Air India Flight 171 crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Wednesday, killing 241 passengers, including Pratik Joshi, his wife Dr. Komi Vyas, and their three children.

For Joshi, a 38-year-old software professional working in London, the flight was supposed to mark the beginning of a new chapter—a life finally lived together with his family after six years of separation. His wife, Dr. Komi Vyas, 36, a respected physician, had just resigned from her medical post in India. Their children, aged 9, 7, and 4, were on their first international journey, full of anticipation and joy.

All five family members were seated together on Flight 171 when it went down less than a minute after takeoff.

A Reunion Six Years in the Making

Pratik Joshi moved to London in 2019, working in the fintech sector and laying the groundwork for his family to join him. The separation was never meant to be long, but visa delays, rising costs, and the pandemic stretched what was supposed to be temporary into a years-long endurance.

Despite the distance, the family remained close—sustained by late-night video calls, care packages, and promises that “someday soon” they would be together.

That someday came this week. Just 48 hours before the flight, Komi left her job at a private hospital in Ahmedabad. The family packed up their home, said tearful goodbyes, and boarded Flight 171 with their lives in motion and their hopes high.

Their final family photo—a selfie taken by Pratik onboard, smiling with Komi and the children—was sent to relatives with the message: “We’re finally flying home.”

What We Know About the Crash

Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Heathrow, took off at 1:38 PM on June 11. Within 30 seconds, it began losing altitude and crashed into a building housing a medical hostel in the Meghani Nagar area of Ahmedabad.

The aircraft burst into flames on impact. Emergency responders were able to rescue only one passenger, a British national seated in the front cabin. The Joshi family, seated mid-cabin, died on impact. At least 28 people on the ground were also killed.

Authorities have recovered both the flight data and cockpit voice recorders. Early investigations suggest a potential malfunction involving the aircraft’s flaps or thrust settings under high-temperature takeoff conditions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is leading the inquiry, in cooperation with international regulators and Boeing engineers.

Air India has offered its condolences and committed to full support for victims’ families, including compensation and assistance with repatriation.

A Family Defined by Love, Sacrifice, and Hope

Those who knew the Joshi family speak of quiet resilience and deep commitment. Pratik, described by colleagues as “unfailingly hardworking and deeply family-oriented,” sacrificed years of milestones to build stability abroad.

Komi was equally devoted—raising three children on her own while tending to patients with calm confidence and a quiet warmth. “She didn’t talk much about the difficulty,” said a former coworker. “She just did what needed to be done. Always with a smile.”

The children—whose names are being withheld from public release—were known in their community for their curiosity, their affection, and their closeness as siblings. “They were always holding hands,” said a neighbor. “Always running together, laughing together.”

In life, the Joshi family stayed connected across continents. In death, they remained together.

A Final Image That Speaks Volumes

The photo taken aboard Flight 171 now circulates as a symbol of what was lost. Five smiling faces, unaware of what awaited them just minutes ahead. It is a picture of joy—and of the fragility of life.

In a world often obsessed with urgency, the Joshi family reminds us of the deep power of patience, sacrifice, and love stretched across time zones and oceans. Their story is a testament to the things people do for family, for a better future, and for the quiet dream of simply being together.

Reflections in the Aftermath

This tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief across India and the diaspora in the United Kingdom, where Pratik had built his new life. Memorial gatherings are being held in both Ahmedabad and London. Friends and extended relatives have launched a digital memorial page to honor the family and provide space for the global community to share memories.

As the technical investigation continues, the human cost remains impossible to quantify.

What we are left with is the image of a family finally on the path home—a dream interrupted in the most unimaginable way.