The pilots of the doomed Air India Flight 171, which crashed moments after take-off, have been identified as Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and his co-pilot, First Officer Clive Kundar. The aircraft, carrying over 240 passengers, crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad Airport in western India, slamming into a dining hall where medical students were having their lunch.
The flight was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, scheduled to land at 6.25pm in the evening. Air India has confirmed that among those onboard were 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Initial reports suggested there were no survivors; however, it has since emerged that British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who had been seated in seat 11A on the UK-bound flight, miraculously survived the horrific crash. So far, recovery efforts have yielded more than 200 bodies from the scene of the catastrophe.
Moments before the tragedy struck, the plane attempted to send a ‘Mayday’ message, indicating an emergency situation. This would be the last communication from the aircraft before it exploded into a fireball in the residential area of Meghani Nagar, filling the sky with plumes of black smoke. The Express understands the pilots expressed concerns about engine failure seconds before the crash.
The aviation world is in shock as questions mount over the unprecedented disaster involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which, according to the Aviation Safety Network database, marked its first major crash since debuting in 2009.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an experienced Air India Boeing 787 commander with over 8,200 flight hours, was renowned for his “disciplined and precise” approach to flying. He always adhered to safety protocols and maintained composure.
First Officer Clive Kundar, who supported Captain Sabharwal in the cockpit, brought 1,100 hours of flight experience to the table, also specialising in long-haul international flights and emergency situations.
In the wake of the tragedy, N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Air India, said: “With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.
“At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.
“Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families seeking information.”
Tata Sons, the parent company of Air India, has pledged to provide approximately £86,000 to each family who lost a loved one in the Ahmedabad plane crash.
Those worried about friends or relatives, or anyone needing help in India following the crash, are urged to get in touch with the Foreign Office.
The Government said: “We are aware of a plane crash in Ahmedabad. The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved.
“If you need help from the British government, or have concerns for friends or family, call:”.
+91 (11) 2419 2100 (in India).
+44 (0) 20 7008 5000 (in the UK)”.
