‘New beginnings’ end in tragedy: Doctor couple and children die in Air India crash

A moment of celebration turned into an unthinkable tragedy for an Indian family aboard Air India Flight 171. Just moments before disaster struck, doctors Komi Vyas and Prateek Joshi captured a smiling selfie with their three children inside the cabin—an image that was meant to mark a fresh start as they embarked on a new life together in London.

That photo has now become a heartbreaking final memory of a family wiped out in one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history.

The Gatwick-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad Airport around 1:40 pm IST on Thursday, 12 June 2025. It was carrying 242 passengers, including 53 British nationals. Within minutes, the aircraft lost control and plunged into the densely populated Meghani area of the city, erupting into a massive fireball that killed at least 260 people—both on board and on the ground.

Among the victims were Dr Komi Vyas, a beloved physician from Udaipur who had recently resigned to reunite with her husband, Dr Prateek Joshi, a UK-based doctor. The couple were travelling with their twin sons Nakul and Pradyut, aged five, and their eight-year-old daughter Miraya. According to family members, Prateek had flown to India just two days earlier to bring his family home to London. Their final photograph—taken in the calm before takeoff—shows the parents smiling side by side, while their children beam across the aisle.

“They were starting a new chapter,” said Dr Joshi’s cousin, Nayan. “It was meant to be the beginning of a beautiful future. Instead, it ended in devastation.”

The crash site was a scene of horror. Charred debris was scattered across rooftops, mangled fuselage was lodged in crumbling buildings, and smoke billowed skyward as rescue teams worked through the wreckage. Authorities believe the death toll could rise further as more bodies are recovered from crushed homes and burnt structures.

Survivors were thought impossible—until news emerged of one: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who had been seated in 11A. Speaking from his hospital bed, the British father recalled the chilling final moments. “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and the plane crashed. When I got up, there were bodies all around me… I ran. Someone pulled me into an ambulance.”

Flight data revealed the aircraft barely reached 625 feet before nosediving—a dangerously low altitude for a commercial jet in its early climb. Experts have pointed to potential causes, including dual bird strikes that may have knocked out engine power. Aviation analysts noted that the pilot, Summeet Sabharwal, had over 8,000 flying hours, and the 11-year-old Dreamliner had no known mechanical issues. Weather conditions were clear.

Captain Saurabh Bhatnagar, a former senior pilot, observed: “The footage looks like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both engines lost power. The descent began just before the landing gear was retracted, suggesting catastrophic engine failure.”

For the Vyas-Joshi family, the tragedy is compounded by its cruel timing. They were leaving behind a settled life in Udaipur and embracing the promise of togetherness abroad—a journey many Indian families dream of, and one they were lucky to begin. Their lives ended not with that hopeful arrival in London, but with a violent plunge into a neighbourhood where families just like theirs watched in horror as the plane came down.

Relatives have been inconsolable. A video showed family members breaking down as they received confirmation of their loss. Komi’s brother Prabuddha could barely speak. “She married Prateek ten years ago. She was so happy to start this new life with him in London. This isn’t how it was supposed to end.”

The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation is leading the investigation, with black box recovery underway. Meanwhile, grieving families are left only with photographs, memories, and shattered dreams.

As rescue crews continue their work and aviation experts seek answers, the final selfie of the Joshi family now stands as a haunting symbol of a tragedy that robbed the world of five vibrant lives—and ended a journey that was meant to begin in hope.