A heart-wrenching photograph of a smiling Indian family moments before boarding a doomed Air India flight has emerged as a haunting reminder of how fragile life can be.
Dr Pratik Joshi, a radiologist who had been living in London for six years, had finally paved the way for his wife, Dr Komi Vyas, and their three young children to join him for a new life in the UK.
On the morning of June 11, 2025, they boarded Air India flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London — a one-way journey that ended in unimaginable tragedy.
The family of five had taken a selfie inside the aircraft, their faces lit with excitement and anticipation.
The image, shared with relatives shortly before takeoff, has since gone viral on social media and news platforms.
Tragically, just minutes after takeoff, the Boeing 787 aircraft crashed in a residential area near Ahmedabad.
All 242 people on board perished, including 53 British nationals and 11 children. Only one passenger, a British national seated in 11A, survived the impact.
Dr Komi Vyas had recently resigned from her position at Pacific Hospital in Udaipur to reunite with her husband in London.
A spokesperson from the hospital confirmed, “Komi had quit her job recently to join her husband in London.”
The couple’s long-awaited reunion had been years in the making, filled with paperwork, planning, and sacrifices.
That morning, their journey to a new beginning was supposed to begin. Instead, it ended in devastation.
The sole survivor of the crash, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, recounted his disbelief at having lived through the explosion.
“The plane exploded,” he reportedly told rescuers after emerging from the wreckage, dazed and injured.
Investigators from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have since launched an inquiry into the cause of the crash, with preliminary reports pointing to a possible loss of engine power or failure to gain sufficient lift.
Tata Sons, the parent company of Air India, announced compensation for the families of the victims, as the world mourns the loss of lives that spanned several continents.
The image of the Joshi family—filled with hope, dreams, and joy—has struck a chord globally, serving not only as a symbol of the tragedy but also as a brutal reminder of life’s unpredictability.
In the aftermath of the crash, tributes continue to pour in. The story of Dr Joshi and Dr Vyas—two medical professionals who devoted their lives to helping others—has resonated deeply with many.
What was meant to be the beginning of a new chapter for the family instead became the final page of a story filled with love, ambition, and an unfulfilled promise.