Air India plane crash: Family, friends bid tearful goodbye as co-pilot Clive Kunder laid to rest

Mumbai: Amid tears, First Officer Clive Kunder, who was in the cockpit of the ill-fated Dreamliner when it crashed last week shortly after take-off, was laid to rest in Mumbai on Thursday with his family friends and admirers describing him as a gem of a person with great ambitions.

Kunder (34) was the co-pilot of the aircraft which was commandeered by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal.

Kunder, whose family originally hails from Mangaluru, was based in the Borivli area of Mumbai. His mother was a flight attendant with Air India and Kunder grew up at the Air India colony at Kalina before moving to Borivali.

Clive had trained at Paris Air Inc., a Florida-based flight training institute, and had clocked 1,100 hours of flying experience.

His parents - Clifford and Rekha - and his sister Camille, who are based in Sydney, flew to India and claimed the body.

The mortal remains were brought to Mumbai early in the morning and taken to Avenue One in Sunteck City off the Ram Mandir Road in Goregaon, where mourners poured in to pay tributes.

The grieving father, mother, and sister sit close by by casket - decked with white flowers - accepting condolences even as a band was played mourning the death of the First Officer, who in next few years would have been a Captain.

Friends and family members mourn near the coffin of Co-Pilot Clive Kunder.

The cortege then left for the Christian Cemetery at Sewri, where the funeral service was held.

Several of Kunder’s Air India colleagues were present to pay tributes to their colleague.

Some of the gym-mates of Clive too were present at the funeral. "He was very committed to fitness and wanted to soar high in life," they said, adding that the tragedy cut his life short.

Air India condoles

Meanwhile, Air India offered condolences and lauded Kunder.

“With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to First Officer Clive Kunder - a young aviator full of promise, a valued colleague, and a deeply cherished member of the Air India family. Clive’s quiet dedication, grace, and passion for flying earned him the admiration of everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him,” the Tata Group owned airliner said in a statement.

At his prayer and funeral service, senior leaders from Tata Group and Air India stood beside Clive’s family, friends, and loved ones - to honour his memory, share in their grief, and offer strength during this incredibly difficult time. “We extend our deepest condolences to Clive’s family. In this moment of profound loss, we stand with you - in remembrance, in sorrow, and in solidarity. Clive’s spirit, warmth, and legacy will always remain a part of Air India. You will be remembered. You will be missed,” the airline said.