Clive Kunder: What to Know About Co-pilot Who Died Alongside 241 People in Air India Plane Crash

• One of the lives claimed in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad in June 12 was that of First Officer Clive Kunder
• He was the co-pilot to Captain Sumeet Sabharwal aboard the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed after takeoff
• Kunder, who has 1,100 hours of flying experience, Captain Sabharwal, and hundreds more died in the plane crash

A young pilot who was navigating his aviation career was one of those who died in the air tragedy in India on June 12.

First Officer Clive Kunder served as the co-pilot on the ill-fated Air India flight AI-171, which crashed in Ahmedabad.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had just left the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad before crashing.

The rare aviation tragedy sent shock waves across India and other parts of the world as many families were thrown into mourning.

Of the 242 people onboard the aircraft, only Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national in seat number 11A, survived the wreckage.

Legit.ng has taken a close look at the information on First Officer Clive Kunder, who assisted Captain Sumeet Sabharwal on board.

Who was Air India victim Clive Kunder?

He had 1100 hours of flying experience

First Officer Kunder was a young pilot just starting out in his career, and so far, had logged 1,100 hours of flying experience.

The late pilot is said to be from a family connected to aviation. His mother was a flight crew member in her working days.

His family has received the sad news, his sister says

According to reports in the international media the news of the Air India plane tragedy has reached Kunder's family.

His sister, Kliene, said she and her parents are in Sydney, Australia, according to local publications like India Today.

"My father, Clifford and mother, Rekha, are with me in Sydney, and we have no information on the condition of my brother. We are leaving on Friday for Ahmedabad to find out how he is."

His former teacher says he was brilliant

The young co-pilot was 34, and he was said to have completed his training in Florida, USA, before returning to India to pursue an aviation career. He was said to be a quiet person.

As reported by NDTV, his teacher, Professor Urvashi, who taught Kunder Physics in Class 11 and 12 in Mumbai's Wilson College, stated that he was a very brilliant student.

"Clive was very brilliant student, very disciplined, very punctual, intelligent... His work was very neat, clean, very systematic," said Urvashi, who thinks his disciplined nature made him a successful pilot.

"It was really heartbreaking to talk about him. It's very difficult for me to digest the news also that such a lively young boy wanted to make a career, wanted to live his life very happily, very disciplined, very punctual, very intelligent boy. It was very difficult for me."

The late pilot was not married.

Actor sends condolences after Air India tragedy

Indian actor, actor Vikrant Massey, per New Indian Express, has also sent a condolence message to the pilot's family.

He said that his heart broke for the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the air crash in Ahmedabad.

"It pains even more to know that my uncle, Clifford Kunder, lost his son, Clive Kunder, who was the first officer operating on that fateful flight. May God give strength to you and your family, uncle, and to all deeply affected."

Expert shares detectable anomalies during flights

Following the Air India aircraft crash, Air Traffic Control (ATC) expert, Promise Orolisen, explained the extent of what ATC officers can and cannot detect during flight operations.

He told Legit.ng:

“ATC can detect various anomalies such as deviations from expected climb rates, failure to follow standard instrument departure procedures, deviations from assigned headings, altitudes, or airspeeds, transponder or communication equipment malfunctions, and aircraft straying from designated taxiways or runways.”

Lady claims God showed her plane crash

Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that a Nigerian lady claimed that she saw the Air India crash before it happened.

The lady, identified on Facebook as Peace Ogbonna Daniel, said she saw the event play out before her like a movie.

She said she felt guilty because even though God showed her the impending tragedy, she failed to pray about this.

Editorial Assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from an aviation expert for this report.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng