9,300 Flight Hours, a Promise Unfulfilled: Inside the Tragedy of the Air India Crash

Tragedy struck as an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, claiming the lives of 241 people onboard. Among the deceased were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who together had over 9,300 hours of flight experience. The only survivor was a British-Indian passenger named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.

A Veteran Pilot and an Unkept Promise

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 8,300 hours of flight experience, was a respected figure in aviation. A resident of Powai, he lived with and cared for his elderly father, a former official from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Just days before the crash, he had reportedly promised to leave his job to become a full-time caregiver for his aging parent. The Sabharwal family, deeply rooted in the aviation sector, is now left grieving a profound loss.

A Young Co-Pilot with Deep Aviation Roots

First Officer Clive Kunder, who had logged 1,100 hours of flying, also came from an aviation family. His mother was a former Air India flight attendant, and his relatives include actor Vikrant Massey. Massey expressed sorrow over the loss of his cousin and offered condolences to all affected families.

The Final Moments of Flight

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Sabharwal made a distress “Mayday” call just before the plane lost contact with Air Traffic Control. The aircraft had taken off at 1:38 pm from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. A critical failure occurred shortly after liftoff, with the plane reaching only 825 feet before crashing and bursting into flames.

Mourning a National Loss

The crash represents more than a tragic statistic—it reflects hundreds of shattered lives and families left grieving. As the investigation continues, the nation mourns not only experienced aviators and passengers but also the dreams and futures that were lost in the tragedy.