Skilled pilots at helm of doomed Air India Flight 171 and desperate last message

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and his co-pilot First Officer Clive Kundar were in the cockpit of Air India Flight 171 during the horror crash, and attempted to send one last message to colleagues on the ground
The two pilots at the helm of the doomed Air India Flight 171 have been named as Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and his co-pilot, First Officer Clive Kundar.
The plane, which had been carrying more than 240 people, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport in western India, hurtling into a dining hall where medical students were eating their lunch.
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It had been bound for London's Gatwick Airport, where it had been scheduled to arrive at 6.25pm this evening. Air India has confirmed that 53 of those onboard were British nationals who had been travelling alongside 169 Indian nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national.
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Police previously advised that there appear to be no survivors; however, it has since been reported that British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who had been sitting in seat 11A of the UK-bound flight, has managed to survive the horror ordeal.
Meanwhile, more than 200 bodies have been recovered from the scene of devastation so far.
Shortly before the tragedy unfolded, the plane attempted to send a 'Mayday' message, signalling that an emergency situation was underway. This would be the final communication with the ground before the aircraft erupted into a fireball in the residential area of Meghani Nagar, where plumes of black smoke filled the sky.
Questions have now been raised as to how such a catastrophe could have occurred, with this marking the first time a Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been involved in a major crash since it went into service in 2009, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
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As one of Air India's most experienced Boeing 787 commanders, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had clocked up more than 8,200 flight hours over the course of his career and had vast experience in the field of long-haul flying. He is remembered by those who knew him as a "disciplined and precise" individual who prioritised safety protocol and remained calm under pressure, One India reports.
Captain Sabharwal was assisted in the cockpit by First Officer Clive Kundar, a pilot with 1,100 hours of flight experience behind him. Like Captain Sabharwal, First Officer Kundar had been highly trained when it came to handling long-haul global operations and emergencies.
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Meanwhile, Air India's chairman, N Chandrasekaran, previously issued the following statement: "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."
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Tata Sons, the company which owns Air India, has stated that it will offer approximately £86,000 to the families of each individual who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash.
Those with concerns about friends or family, as well as anyone who requires assistance in India following the crash, have been advised to contact the Foreign Office.
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A full statement on the Gov.uk website reads as follows: "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:
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This is a developing story.