Doctor Couple's Dream of New Life in UK Ends in Tragedy
- A doctor couple from Rajasthan and their three children died in the Air India Flight 171 crash seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad.
- A heartbreaking selfie taken moments before the crash shows the family smiling, unaware of the tragedy ahead.
- The family was relocating to London to start a new life together, making the loss even more devastating.
In a heart-wrenching tragedy, a doctor couple’s dream of beginning a new chapter in the UK ended in disaster when the Air India Flight 171 to London-Gatwick crashed just seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday. The young family from Rajasthan, including their three children, were among the 242 onboard all but one perished in the fiery crash that followed the aircraft’s sudden descent.
Dr Komi Vyas, who previously worked at a hospital in Udaipur, had recently resigned from her job to reunite with her husband, Dr Prateek Joshi, in London. Dr Joshi, who had already settled in the UK, returned to India earlier this week to accompany his family on what was supposed to be a hopeful journey to a new life.
“They left for Ahmedabad yesterday to take the flight to London. Prateek had come here just two days ago to take his wife and children with him. Several family members went to see them off”, said Nayan, Dr Joshi’s cousin, speaking to NDTV.
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A photograph now circulating on social media has become a haunting reminder of the lives lost. The selfie, taken moments before the aircraft took off, shows Dr Joshi smiling alongside his wife, Komi. Across the aisle, their three children twin boys Nakul and Pradyut, both aged five, and their eight-year-old daughter Miraya beam with excitement. The image captures the joy and anticipation of a family setting out for a new beginning.
Tragically, just 32 seconds after take-off, the aircraft failed to gain altitude, crashed into a nearby building, and burst into flames. The impact killed nearly everyone onboard and also claimed lives on the ground.
The last photo of the family smiling, united, full of hope now stands as a painful reminder of a future that never came to be.
