A couple who previously lived in Auckland have been confirmed among the victims of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed more than 240 lives.
Rachna and Rozar Christian, originally from Ahmedabad, lived in Mt Roskill between 2016 and 2021 before moving to London, The New Zealand Herald reported.
The news of Rachna and Rozar Christian’s death has left many in New Zealand reeling, particularly at the Imperial College of New Zealand, where Rachna studied in 2016.
Kanwalpreet Kaur, Principal of the institution, took to Facebook to express her sorrow and extend condolences.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Rachna Christian, a former student of Imperial College of New Zealand and her husband, Rozar, who were among the victims of the recent plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. Rachna was our student in 2016,” wrote Kanwalpreet Kaur, Principal of Imperial College of New Zealand, in a Facebook post.
“On behalf of the entire Imperial College of New Zealand’s family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to their loved ones and to all those affected by this unimaginable tragedy. Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and everyone impacted during this incredibly difficult time,” she added.
The pair were aboard Air India flight AI171, which crashed into a medical college hostel shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Only one person, seated in 11A, is reported to have survived.
Rachna had moved to New Zealand on a student visa in 2016 to study at the Imperial College of New Zealand, with Rozar joining her shortly after. During their time in Auckland, the couple worked part-time for a cleaning company. However, due to visa constraints, they were unable to obtain residency and left New Zealand around six months before moving to the UK.
The flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
Facebook post by Imperial College of New Zealand
Venisha Christian, a friend of the couple, told The New Zealand Herald she was still in disbelief.
According to Venisha, the couple had been flying in and out of India over the past year and were hoping to start a family. Their extended families in India have reportedly submitted DNA samples to assist with identification, though local media had already released the full list of passengers.
Another friend described them as a “beautiful couple,” adding that their uncle and aunt in Auckland were devastated by the news and that there had been no updates yet on the recovery of their bodies.
A candlelight vigil was held at the Shree Radha Krishna Temple on 13 June, 2025, in central Auckland to honour the victims of the crash. Among those present were Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell and outgoing Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran. The vigil began with prayers as community members gathered to pay their respects.
India’s civil aviation authority confirmed that the plane was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. Air India stated the flight was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “heartbreaking beyond words,” as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
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