Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Who was Sumit Sabharwal? Pilot Of Air India Flight AI 171

AHMEDABAD: The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on Thursday, June 12, 2025, has left the nation in deep sorrow. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, including crew, crashed into the Meghani Nagar residential area shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The aircraft took off at 1:38 PM from Runway 23 and lost contact with air traffic control after issuing a distress call. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that the flight gave a ‘MAYDAY’ call moments before disappearing from radar.

Aircraft Crew and Command

The flight was under the command of Captain Sumit Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 hours of flying experience. He was assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 flight hours. Together, they were piloting Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft, registered VT-ANB.

Who Was Captain Sumit Sabharwal?

Captain Sumit Sabharwal was a senior Line Training Captain at Air India, highly respected among peers. With 8,200 hours of flying time, he had vast experience flying wide-body jets, including the Dreamliner. He had also been involved in training new pilots and was known for his calm approach during critical flight situations. Captain Sabharwal’s death is a huge loss to the Indian aviation community. He was based in Delhi and had been with the airline for over a decade.

Passenger and Crew Details

The plane was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, totaling 242 people. Many passengers were citizens of India, the UK, and Portugal. Several families, elderly people, and children were onboard. The crash has resulted in numerous casualties, though the official toll is still being confirmed.

Rescue and Investigation

Emergency teams responded quickly to the crash in Meghani Nagar. The impact caused fire and structural damage to homes in the area. Multiple ambulances and fire brigades were seen rescuing trapped residents and passengers.

Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash. A technical fault is suspected, but nothing is confirmed yet.

Air India, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stated:
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.”

The flight was also operating under codeshare SQ4939 with Singapore Airlines.