Tragic Photo Of Family On-Board Air India Flight 171 Surfaces Online
A British-based family of five — two dedicated doctors and their three young children — were among the 241 people killed in a devastating Air India plane crash just minutes after takeoff earlier this week.
Dr. Prateek Joshi, a consultant radiologist with the NHS at Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital Burton, was among those tragically killed, along with his wife, Dr. Komi Vyas, and their three children. The family had been traveling aboard Air India Flight AI171, which departed from Ahmedabad, India, and was en route to London when it went down shortly after taking off.
An image shared by the BBC captures the heartbreaking final moments of the family. In the photo, Joshi and Vyas smile beside their daughter, Miraya, and twin sons, Pradyut and Nakul, as they posed for a selfie aboard the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner — a moment of joy before the tragedy struck.
According to Air India, the flight crashed into a residential neighborhood just five minutes after lifting off at 1:38 p.m. local time on Thursday, June 12. All but one of the 242 people on board lost their lives. The lone survivor was identified as a British national of Indian descent.
Joshi’s passing has left colleagues, neighbors, and the medical community reeling. University Hospitals of Derby and Burton issued a statement Friday expressing deep sorrow over the loss. Chief Executive Stephen Posey remembered Dr. Joshi as “a warm, smiling and kind man,” describing him as a “hugely liked and valued member of the team.”
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our devoted and gifted colleague, Dr. Prateek Joshi, and his beloved family,” the statement said. “He was not only an excellent doctor, but someone whose positive spirit made a lasting impact.”
Former neighbor Neil Ryan recalled the family’s time in the UK before they returned to India in 2021. “They were just the nicest, most genuine people you could ever meet. It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” he told the BBC. “Before they left, Prateek came by with a gift bag — gin, cakes, tea — just a class act of kindness.”
Colleague Dr. Rajeev Singh echoed the sentiment, calling Joshi “full of joy” and “highly respected” in his field. “He often talked about his love of British traditions, like fish and chips, and hikes in the Peak District,” Singh said. “Losing him and his family like this is beyond words.”
According to The Mirror, Dr. Komi Vyas had recently stepped down from her position at Pacific Hospital in India as she prepared to move to London permanently to join her husband.
The flight’s victims included 169 Indian nationals, 53 from the UK, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. Air India has stated it is fully cooperating with investigators as authorities seek to determine what caused the crash.
This devastating incident leaves behind not only a grieving medical community but also a stark reminder of how quickly life can be upended. The loss of the Joshi-Vyas family will be deeply felt across two nations — and far beyond.
