by Willy Okonji-
London/Udaipur, June 12 — What was meant to be a joyful beginning turned into an unspeakable tragedy for a family from Udaipur, India. Pratik Joshi, a software engineer who had been living and working in London for the past six years, was finally reuniting with his wife and three young children to start a new chapter abroad.
After years of waiting for clearances and planning meticulously, the long-cherished dream was coming true. Just two days ago, his wife, Dr. Komi Vyas — a well-known physician in Udaipur — resigned from her post. The family packed up their life, bid emotional farewells to loved ones, and prepared to board a one-way flight to their future.
On the morning of June 12, the Joshi family boarded Air India Flight 171, bound for London. Moments before takeoff, they sent a smiling selfie to relatives — a snapshot of joy, hope, and anticipation.
But tragedy struck just hours into the journey. Flight AI171 crashed under still-unclear circumstances. There were no survivors.
In an instant, the hopes of an entire family were extinguished. The crash has left friends, colleagues, and relatives reeling in shock and grief.
This devastating loss is a stark reminder of life’s fragility — how quickly the future can vanish, and how precious the present truly is.
