Mumbai, 13 June 2025 – It was a heart-wrenching tale of an indomitable love that unfolded in the wake of last Thursday’s Air India Flight AI 171 crash, with 88-year-old Captain Sumeet Sabharwal’s terminally ill father struggling to endure a suffocating silence. The seasoned pilot — who had spoken lovingly to his father moments before take-off — did not survive to come home.
Three days before that fateful day, Captain Sabharwal had shared a heartfelt promise with his elderly father: “I’m going to leave my job and take care of you.” His father, widowed and living alone in Powai after the loss of his wife two years ago, clung to hope that this moment had finally arrived.
In the morning of Thursday, Sabharwal phoned from Ahmedabad airport, assuring his father, “I’ll call you once I reach London.” He was able to make it only up to the runway boundary when the Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner spookily lost altitude, the engines disappeared, and the plane crashed into a medical college hostel just seconds after departure
Sabharwal, aged 60, was an exceptional person in the field of aviation—a Line Training Captain with 8,200 flying hours, a position that involved flying big routes as well as training other pilots. Sabharwal resided in Powai with his father and sister, and his neighbours remember him to be quiet, disciplined, and always caring for his family.
The ICAO-trained pilot captain was not only a quintessential pro—he was a committed son with intentions of retreating from the airlines to help his father in his sunset years. Captain CS Randhawa, who is President, Federation of Indian Pilots Association, mentioned that in one of their recent talks, Sabharwal by chance spoke about his age—”Sabharwal must be 55 or 56 years”—although others report him to be 60 Randhawa also remembered Sabharwal’s outstanding safety approach: “He was himself a participant in checking the safety of flights”—a reflection on his capability as well as character
With Sabharwal was First Officer Clive Kunder, a 1,100-hour pilot who also lost his life. Early media claims that Kunder was actor Vikrant Massey’s cousin proved to be untrue, with Massey going on to explain that Clive was a close friend of the family and not a relative. Massey was deeply saddened, stating that the news “pains even more” because he knew he was a loved friend of the family
Flight AI 171 flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick with 242 on board — 230 passengers and 12 crew — radioed a desperate MAYDAY seconds after taking off from runway 23 at 1:38 pm IST. The plane climbed momentarily, then plunged sadly into the hostel of B.J. Medical College within the airport boundary. Of the people on board, just one passenger, British citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was left alive with minor injuries
241 people died on board and at least 28 on the ground in the worst disaster in Boeing 787 history. Rescue and recovery personnel, supported by CISF, NDRF, army troops, and Air India, descended on the site amidst raging fires which raged for hours (Investigations are being carried out by the DGCA, AAIB (UK), Boeing, and U.S. agencies, all trying to untangle the reason behind the unexpected loss of thrust)
This tragedy destroyed a family’s dreams and untold promise. Captain Sabharwal had intended to retire to tend to his father—his last thoughts clear and dedicated—even as the skies defied that promise. His death, like so many others, poses some stark questions about the safety of flying and human vulnerability. Keep reading Questiqa.in for more news.
