A family photograph taken moments before departure has now become a heartbreaking symbol of lost dreams and lives cut short. The smiling selfie of Dr. Pratik Joshi, his wife Dr. Komi Vyas, and their three young children, taken aboard Air India’s London-bound flight AI-171, has gone viral following the tragic crash that killed 241 of the 242 people onboard. The sole survivor remains unidentified, as investigations into the disaster continue.
The ill-fated aircraft crashed into a residential neighborhood in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Among the victims was the Joshi-Vyas family, whose story has deeply affected communities in Udaipur and Banswara, Rajasthan—the family’s hometowns.
Dr. Pratik Joshi, a radiologist based in London for the past six years, had returned to India to accompany his wife and children back to the UK. Dr. Komi Vyas, a physician formerly with Pacific Hospital in Udaipur, had recently resigned in preparation for the family’s long-awaited reunion abroad. Their daughter, Miraya, was eight years old, while their twin sons, Nakul and Pradyut, were just five.
“This was to be the beginning of a new chapter for them,” said Nayan Joshi, a relative. “Komi had been staying in Banswara with the kids while awaiting final visa approvals.”
The family had travelled to Ahmedabad on Wednesday, joined by relatives who came to bid farewell—unaware that it would be their last. The couple, married for nearly a decade, had long dreamed of building a life together in London after years of living apart due to career and immigration constraints.
Dr. Joshi came from a family renowned in the medical and engineering fields. His father operates a respected sonography centre in Udaipur, and his sister is an engineer. Friends and neighbors remembered the couple as ambitious and deeply devoted to their children, calling them a source of inspiration.
The now-iconic selfie shows the couple smiling from one side of the aisle, while their children, seated opposite, beam with equal joy. The image has since come to represent the fragility of life and the cruel unpredictability of fate.
According to aviation officials, the aircraft had barely been airborne for 32 seconds before it entered an uncontrolled descent and erupted in flames in the Meghani Nagar area of Ahmedabad at approximately 1:38 p.m. Eyewitnesses reported the plane appeared to struggle during takeoff. Preliminary investigations suggest a potential engine failure that may have prevented proper lift.
The tragedy has sparked renewed scrutiny of airline safety procedures and emergency response preparedness. Authorities have confirmed that 11 of the deceased were from Rajasthan. Dr. Komi Vyas is survived by two sisters and a brother.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma called the crash “extremely sad and worrying,” while former CM Ashok Gehlot described it as “heartbreaking.”
As investigators work to uncover the cause, the human toll of the crash continues to ripple across families, communities, and a nation grappling with grief.
About the incident
On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The flight was bound for London Gatwick and was carrying 242 people—230 passengers and 12 crew members
The aircraft issued a “Mayday” distress call moments after departure, but no further communication was received. It crashed into a densely populated residential area, specifically striking a medical college hostel in the Meghani Nagar neighborhood, just minutes after takeoff at around 1:38 PM local time
