Sunjay Kapur’s sudden death: Industrialist mourned Air India crash victims hours before

This report covers the tragic Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 onboard and many on the ground, marking India's deadliest aviation disaster in decades. It also highlights the poignant coincidence of Sunjay Kapur, a leading industrialist and ex-husband of Karisma Kapoor, who expressed sorrow over the crash victims just hours before his unexpected death from a heart attack.

Sources:
FirstpostBbcReuters+9
Updated 11m ago
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Sources: TimesofindiaSportsBbc+3
Sunjay Kapur, a prominent Indian industrialist and chairman of Sona Comstar, died suddenly at age 53 in the UK after suffering a heart attack during a polo match.

In a poignant coincidence, Kapur had expressed condolences for the victims of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad just hours before his death.

The Air India flight AI171, bound for London from Ahmedabad, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, killing 241 people onboard and others on the ground. It was the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011.

The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed near a medical college hostel in the Meghani Nagar area, sparking a massive fire fueled by 1.25 lakh liters of jet fuel.

“The temperature in and around the crashed Air India plane rose to around 1,000 degrees C which made the rescue operation extremely difficult,” officials said.

The crash has triggered a large-scale rescue operation and widespread grief across India, with political parties canceling events and condolences pouring in from leaders.

Kapur was also the President of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India and co-chaired the Manufacturing Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

“In a heartbreaking coincidence, just hours before his own untimely demise, Sunjay had expressed sorrow over the horrific Air India plane crash,” highlighting the tragic irony.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with speculation about a rare double engine failure and possible bird strikes, as Gujarat state reported 462 bird strike incidents over five years.

Boeing and Air India have pledged full cooperation with investigators.

The tragedy marks a grim milestone in Indian aviation history and has renewed scrutiny on aircraft safety worldwide.
Sources: TimesofindiaSportsBbc+1
Sunjay Kapur, Indian industrialist and chairman of Sona Comstar, died suddenly at 53 in the UK hours after mourning victims of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 onboard and others on the ground. The crash is the first fatal 787 accident since 2011.
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The Headline

Air India 787 crash kills 241; industrialist Kapur dies hours after condolence

Hours before his death, Sunjay Kapur expressed condolences for the Air India crash victims, highlighting the irony of his untimely death.
Sunjay Kapur
Indian industrialist
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The Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad is a devastating tragedy.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu
Theweek
Expressed deep grief over the plane crash.
YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
Theweek
Key Facts
  • Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad to London on June 12, 2025.TimesofindiaFirstpost
  • The aircraft crashed near the BJ Medical College hostel in a densely populated area, causing massive fire and destruction with temperatures reaching around 1,000 degrees Celsius.1
  • At least 241 people onboard and several on the ground were killed, making it India's deadliest aviation disaster in three decades.Bbc
  • The pilots issued a mayday call seconds after takeoff, with speculation of a rare double engine failure or flap misconfiguration as possible causes.Timesofindia
  • Gujarat reported 462 bird strike incidents over five years, with Ahmedabad airport being a hotspot, raising bird strike as a possible factor in the crash.Bbc
  • Boeing shares fell over 4% following the crash, renewing concerns about 787 Dreamliner safety amid past whistleblower complaints about structural flaws.Moneycontrol1
  • The Tata Group announced ₹1 crore compensation for families of each deceased passenger.1
  • Political parties like BJP canceled events in Rajasthan; leaders including Andhra CM and YSRCP chief expressed grief over the crash.EnglishTheweek
  • Sunjay Kapur, prominent Indian industrialist and ex-husband of Karisma Kapoor, died of a heart attack hours after expressing condolences for the crash victims.SportsTimesofindiaMoneycontrol3
Key Stats at a Glance
Number of people onboard Air India Flight AI171
242 people
Timesofindia
Number of people killed onboard Air India Flight AI171
241 people
Number of bird strike incidents reported in Gujarat over five years
462 incidents
Percentage drop in Boeing shares after Air India crash
4%
Compensation amount announced by Tata Group per deceased passenger
₹1 crore

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Background Context

Context: Deadliest Indian air crash, first fatal 787 Dreamliner loss, Boeing safety concerns

Key Facts
  • The Air India Flight AI171 crash is India's deadliest aviation disaster in three decades, surpassing previous major incidents like the 1985 Kanishka Flight 182 and 1978 Flight 855 disasters.Firstpost
  • The crash marked the first fatal crash and hull loss involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011.News18Bbc
  • The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner involved was flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kundar, both highly experienced with over 9,000 combined flying hours.Bbc
  • Past safety concerns include a 2024 whistleblower complaint alleging structural flaws in the 787 Dreamliner fuselage, leading to a nearly two-year FAA delivery pause.Timesofindia
  • The crash occurred just before the Paris Air Show where Boeing was expected to participate, adding pressure amid renewed safety scrutiny.1
Key Stats at a Glance
Combined flying hours of Air India Flight AI171 pilots
9000 hours
Bbc
Year Boeing 787 Dreamliner began commercial service
2011 year
Year of Kanishka Flight 182 disaster
1985 year
Year of Air India Flight 855 disaster
1978 year
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