Ahmedabad – The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI 171 on Thursday afternoon has left the nation in mourning. The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick, crashed into a densely populated residential area in Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad, just moments after takeoff at 1:38 PM. The incident, which triggered a massive emergency and rescue response, has raised serious concerns over flight safety and air traffic operations.
At the helm of the aircraft was Captain Sumit Sabharwal, a seasoned aviator and Line Training Captain for Air India, who had logged over 8,200 hours of flying experience. Known among his peers as a dedicated professional, Captain Sabharwal had mentored several junior pilots and was entrusted with the training of new recruits. His calm demeanour and command skills were respected throughout the aviation community.
Assisting him in the cockpit was First Officer Clive Kundar, who had approximately 1,100 hours of flight time. Both pilots were reported to have communicated a distress “MAYDAY” call to Air Traffic Control moments before the crash. Unfortunately, the aircraft lost contact shortly after and plummeted into a residential block, resulting in multiple casualties and widespread devastation.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Black box recovery operations are underway, and a team of aviation experts, including representatives from Boeing and Air India, is already on site to assess the wreckage.
Onboard the aircraft were 230 passengers and 12 crew members, including the two pilots. While Air India confirmed the incident via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the exact number of survivors and fatalities has yet to be officially confirmed.
Captain Sabharwal’s family, devastated by the news, described him as a committed pilot who lived and breathed flying. He leaves behind a legacy of professionalism and service in India’s aviation history.
As rescue teams continue their operations and the nation awaits answers, tributes are pouring in for Captain Sumit Sabharwal and all those affected by this terrible tragedy.
