Air India crash: Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey shuts down media speculation about co-pilot: 'Not my cousin, folks'

Maybe pick up the phone next time before assuming and reporting, the actor claps back

Last updated:
Manjusha Radhakrishnan , Entertainment Editor
2 MIN READ
Vikrant Massey shares his take on the glorious history of Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
Vikrant Massey shares his take on the glorious history of Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan

In the age of clickbait headlines and "blink-and-you-miss-it" reporting, facts often become the first casualty. Case in point? Vikrant Massey had to take time out of mourning to correct the media—because apparently verifying basic information is optional now.

Following the tragic Air India crash that claimed 241 lives, including First Officer Clive Kunder, actor Vikrant Massey shared a heartfelt message on Instagram mourning the loss. In his tribute, he wrote that Clive was the son of his "uncle" Clifford Kunder—prompting several media outlets to swiftly label the deceased officer as Vikrant’s cousin.

And just like that, the headline machine went into overdrive—never mind confirming the actual relationship.

But Vikrant’s second post put things in perspective. It seemed like a calm but clear clap back to those jumping the gun.

“Dear friends in the media and elsewhere,” he wrote, “the unfortunately deceased Mr Clive Kunder was NOT my cousin. The Kunder's are our family friends. Request no more speculations and let the family and loved ones grieve in peace.”

Translation: please do your homework before publishing.

Let’s rewind. In his initial post, the 12th Fail actor had expressed his sorrow:

“My heart breaks for the families and loved ones of the ones who lost their lives in the unimaginably tragic air crash in Ahmedabad today. It pains even more to know that my uncle, Clifford Kunder, lost his son, Clive Kunder, who was the first officer operating on that fateful night.”

But the nuance of “uncle” as a term of respect or close family friend was evidently too subtle for some publications to grasp. Instead of asking or confirming, they ran with it. And in doing so, added unnecessary noise to an already tragic moment.

About the tragedy:

Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after take-off on June 12. Onboard were 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Only one person survived—the passenger in seat 11A, a British national of Indian origin who is currently being treated in a hospital.

The official statement from Air India read:

“Of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities... We are working closely with authorities and the families of the victims.”

This was one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history.

At a time when empathy, accuracy, and sensitivity should be front and center, it’s disappointing—though not entirely surprising—that some media outlets rushed to misreport familial ties. Vikrant Massey’s response was graceful, but also a necessary reminder:
A condolence post isn’t an open invitation to fabricate a family tree. Journalism 101, people. Let’s do better.

Manjusha Radhakrishnan
Manjusha Radhakrishnan Entertainment Editor
Manjusha Radhakrishnan has been slaying entertainment news and celebrity interviews in Dubai for 18 years—and she’s just getting started. As Entertainment Editor, she covers Bollywood movie reviews, Hollywood scoops, Pakistani dramas, and world cinema. Red carpets? She’s walked them all—Europe, North America, Macau—covering IIFA (Bollywood Oscars) and Zee Cine Awards like a pro. She’s been on CNN with Becky Anderson dropping Bollywood truth bombs like Salman Khan Black Buck hunting conviction and hosted panels with directors like Bollywood’s Kabir Khan and Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. She has also covered film festivals around the globe. Oh, and did we mention she landed the cover of Xpedition Magazine as one of the UAE’s 50 most influential icons? She was also the resident Bollywood guru on Dubai TV’s Insider Arabia and Saudi TV, where she dishes out the latest scoop and celebrity news. Her interview roster reads like a dream guest list—Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, Robbie Williams, Sean Penn, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Morgan Freeman. From breaking celeb news to making stars spill secrets, Manjusha doesn’t just cover entertainment—she owns it while looking like a star herself.

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