Chandigarh, June 28, 2025: In a solemn and tearful memorial service, colleagues of the 12 crew members lost in the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 gathered to share memories of the friends and professionals they called “family.” The service, held at the airline’s headquarters, painted a vivid picture of the lives cut short, moving beyond the headlines to the human heart of the tragedy.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, struggling to hold back his emotions, captured the sentiment of the day. “Words can’t capture what we feel,” he said. “Each of us will carry this loss in our own way, but together, we have a shared responsibility — to honour our colleagues’ memory, their service, and their spirit through the way we move forward”.
The tributes that followed were deeply personal, offered by those who flew alongside the crew of AI171.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the flight’s commander with 30 years of service, was revealed in a touching story behind his flying school nickname, “Sad Sack.” Far from being morose, the name was a joke among friends because of his unflappable, calm smile, even in moments of distress. “He didn’t compete with anyone; he celebrated everyone. Captain Sumeet just didn’t wear a uniform; he dignified it”.
First Officer Clive Kunder, 26, was remembered by his batchmate as more than a colleague. “He was like a very dear brother,” said a colleague, his voice heavy with emotion. “From the skies of the Earth, he will be flying into the skies of heaven. He will never be forgotten”.
The stories of the cabin crew were equally poignant. A friend of Cabin Supervisor Shraddha Dhavan, who has known her since before they both joined the airline, shared a memory of her friend’s dedication. “After a flight, however tired we were, Shraddha would first iron and place her uniform ready for the next sector,” She recalled. “No matter how difficult or demanding flights were, she always carried out her duties with a radiant smile”.
Friends remembered Maithili Patil as a devout woman who always carried a statue of Lord Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita on her flights. They spoke of Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam, who had excitedly texted her sister about her flight to London, promising to return on June 15. Each tribute, whether for veteran crew members like Deepak Pathak and Aparna Mahadik or for those just beginning their careers like Irfan Shaikh, Lamnunthem Singson, Saineeta Chakravarty, Roshni Songhare, and Manisha Thapa, highlighted a team known for its professionalism, warmth, and compassion.
As one colleague said of her friend Saineeta, “The aircraft is just not a machine to us. It’s our second home.” For the Air India family and the communities these crew members came from, the loss is immeasurable, leaving behind memories of dedication, kindness, and a passion for the skies.