Air India staff and retirees honor 12 crew members lost in AI 171 crash at a solemn memorial service at St. Peter’s Church, Bandra, with prayers and tributes.
Editorial (14/07/2025, Gaudium Press) On Saturday morning, nearly 500 Air India employees, retirees, and community members gathered at St. Peter’s Church in Bandra for a poignant memorial service to honor the 12 crew members who perished in the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI 171 on June 12 in Ahmedabad. The one-and-a-half-hour service, which began at 8:00 a.m., was a heartfelt tribute marked by prayer, song, and shared grief.
The ceremony opened with a somber procession, as a poster bearing the images of the fallen crew was carried into the church to the strains of the choir singing Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Led by Father Ivan Dsouza, the service included a Prayer for the Faithful and special intention prayers dedicated to the crew. The event concluded with the choir’s stirring rendition of How Great Thou Art, leaving attendees visibly moved.
Captain Kevin Paul, a veteran Air India pilot with 35 years of service, traveled from his home in Kandivali to attend the service, having flown a flight the previous night. Representing the pilot community, Paul addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of communal support in times of loss. “When there is a tragedy, sharing your grief helps. It shows the grieving family that they are not alone. We wanted to tell the family we are there for them,” he said. Reflecting on the turnout, Paul noted, “It was heartening to see so many retired Air India employees who still feel part of the airline.”
The service was organized by Neil Pais, a Bandra resident and former Air India cabin crew in-charge and manager of the inflight service department. Pais, who had flown the Boeing Dreamliner alongside several of the deceased, including Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot of AI 171, and cabin supervisors Aparna Mahadik and Shraddha Dhavan, described the ceremony as deeply moving. “It was a beautiful memorial month’s mind mass and an even more touching, heart-rending prayer service,” Pais said. “Past and present Air Indians packed the hall. The special moment was remembering each crew member individually, accompanied by a somber gong.”
Speakers at the service shared personal memories of the crew, who were remembered for their dedication and professionalism. The family of Captain Kunder, the co-pilot on the ill-fated flight, was present but overcome with grief and did not speak. The service underscored the tight-knit bond within the Air India community, as colleagues and retirees came together to mourn and honor their fallen comrades.
The crash of Flight AI 171 has left a profound impact on the airline and its employees, with this memorial serving as a testament to the enduring spirit of solidarity among its staff. As the Air India family continues to grieve, the service offered a moment of collective healing and remembrance for those lost in the line of duty.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from FreePress Journal India
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