Air India Flight 171 pilots named as desperate final message sent before crash
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The pilots of the ill-fated Air India Flight 171 have been identified as Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar.
The aircraft, carrying over 240 passengers, tragically crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad Airport in western India, ploughing into a dining hall where medical students were having lunch.
The flight was en route to Gatwick Airport in London, with an expected arrival time of 6.25pm yesterday 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 from the police suggested there were no survivors; however, it has since emerged that British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who occupied seat 11A on the UK-bound flight, miraculously survived the horrific incident.
In the meantime, recovery efforts yesterday had yielded over 200 bodies from the wreckage so far, reports the Mirror.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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:
+91 (11) 2419 2100 (in India)
+44 (0) 20 7008 5000 (in the UK)"
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