Last Journey of Air India Pilot Captain Sumeet Sabharwal: Mortal Remains Brought to Mumbai
The entire country mourns the tragic loss of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal,, the pilot of Air India flight AI-171, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. On Tuesday, his mortal remains were brought to Mumbai, where family, friends, and well-wishers gathered to bid an emotional farewell to the brave pilot.
Emotional Tribute by Family and Friends in Mumbai
According to official sources, the casket carrying Captain Sabharwal’s remains arrived at Mumbai Airport early in the morning before being taken to his residence at Jal Vayu Vihar in Powai. Visuals from news agency ANI captured emotional scenes outside his home as his father, Pushkaraj Sabharwal, and other family members paid tearful tributes.
Several friends, colleagues, and local residents gathered to pay their last respects. Prominent personalities like businessman Niranjan Hiranandani and local MLA Dilip Lande were also seen offering condolences to the grieving family.
Later in the day, the hearse carrying the mortal remains proceeded towards the Chakala electric crematorium, where Captain Sabharwal’s final rites were performed with full respect and heavy hearts.
Air India AI-171 Crash: What Happened?
The Air India flight AI-171, bound for London with 242 passengers and crew members, crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad airport at 1:39 PM IST on June 12. Tragically, 271 people lost their lives in the disaster, including 29 people on the ground, as the aircraft crashed into a medical complex near the airport.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, was commanding the flight, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had around 1,100 flying hours. Sabharwal himself was an experienced pilot with 8,200 hours of flying experience, according to a statement issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The DGCA’s preliminary report revealed that shortly after takeoff from Runway 23, the aircraft issued a MAYDAY call to the Air Traffic Control (ATC). However, after that distress call, all communication from the cockpit ceased, leaving ATC and emergency services helpless to intervene before the crash occurred.
Investigation Underway
A full-fledged investigation is currently underway by the DGCA, with assistance from global aviation safety experts. Preliminary findings suggest the possibility of a critical technical failure soon after takeoff, though a detailed report is awaited.
The black box, including the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), has been recovered and is being analyzed for further insights into the chain of events that led to the fatal crash.
Who Was Captain Sumeet Sabharwal?
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was a senior and well-respected pilot in Air India with decades of experience in commercial aviation. Known for his professionalism and dedication to duty, Sabharwal was a resident of Powai, Mumbai, and was admired by peers and juniors alike.
His untimely death has left a profound void in the Indian aviation community. Colleagues remember him as a calm, composed, and responsible captain who had handled challenging flights in the past with skill and leadership.
Nation in Mourning
As India comes to terms with one of its deadliest aviation disasters in recent years, tributes continue to pour in for Captain Sabharwal and the other victims of the tragedy. The government has assured full support to the families of the deceased, while compensation packages are being discussed for the victims’ relatives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a statement, calling it a “dark day for Indian aviation”, and emphasized that a thorough investigation will be conducted to prevent such incidents in the future.
Trump Mobile’s T1 Smartphone Launched: Here’s What the ‘American-Made’ Device Offers
[…] Final Journey of Air India Pilot Capt Sumeet Sabharwal: Emotional Tributes as Remains Arrive in Mumb… […]