Air India: Details of Phone Call Pilot Made an Hour Before Ill-Fated Plane Crash Emerges Online

• Weeks after the deadly Air India flight 171 disaster, investigations are still ongoing to ascertain the actual cause of it
• Various aviation experts have offered reasons the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Ahmedabad airport
• Investigators examined the medical records of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who made a call an hour before the flight

The deadly Air India plane crash of June 12, which claimed over 240 lives, has continued to exist at the centre of discussion in the aviation industry and among air travellers.

An Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report said the fuel cutoff switches had transitioned from 'run' to cutoff', leading to the air tragedy in Ahmedabad.

Many have criticised the report, which they said subtly blamed the chief pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, which has placed significant focus on his reported mental health struggles.

Meanwhile, according to the Times of India, the captain called home an hour before the flight took off to tell his people that he would ring them again once he got to Gatwick Airport in London.

Read also

Long-time colleague of Air India pilot who died in crash shares how he acted and what he never did

"An hour before takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had called home and told his family he would ring again once he reached London. That was not to be..." an excerpt of the report read.

An author and physician, Dolanchampa Dasgupta, hailed the pilot on Facebook, stating that he tried his best to save the lives of the passengers.

People mourn pilot of Air India crash

Legit.ng has compiled some reactions to the Air India pilot's act below, with many hailing Captain Sabharwal as a hero in the face of deep scrutiny of his mental health history:

Chandana Karmakar said:

"Salute to pilot 👍."

কল্লোল দাশগুপ্ত said:

"He tried to avoid larger catastrophic death by trying to steer past dense habitation areas but unfortunately did not have much time and managed to lodge the aircraft in one building."

Debamukta Ghosh said:

"Salute! It might be a sabotage as well."

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Air India: Long-time colleague in tears as she shares how Captain Sumeet behaved before plane crash

Diptilekha Mukherjee said:

"No words to express grief and pain."

Vinayak Abir Chowdhury said:

"He was about to retire from the duty within the next few months and planned to have time with his father."

Priti Ghosh said:

"A grand salute to both of you, May your soul rest in peace. You are the real heros to me."

Co-pilot's close friend reacts

Clive Kunder was one of the pilots of the ill-fated Air India plane. His friend, Shivani M Singh, spoke about how the pilot loved her very much.

She recalled his words:

"You can find a man but never someone who loves you like me."

Her tribute to the pilot partly read:

"Beloved Clive, There will be endless stories, memories that will painfully yet beautifully haunt me. That I was lucky to be loved by a man who was so complete and secure. Capable beyond his years and unconditionally loving.

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Air India: Man mourns death of woman who died in plane crash while travelling to meet her husband

“You were not a ‘guy’ in my life. You were my family. You were my joy. My most called person. The person who had every little detail about my life. How excitedly and in animated sense you’d describe each and every flight experience. I know how much you loved flying and I also know the mettle you were made of. It wasn’t a job for you. It was all heart."

In a related story, Legit.ng reported that the colleagues of the late Air India pilot had spoken about his medical record after the plane crash.

Shared humanity drives emotional public response - Expert

As emotional reactions continue to trail the tragic Air India crash, a clinical psychologist, Samuel Atilola, has offered insight into why such events often resonate deeply with the public.

Speaking with Legit.ng, Atilola said:

“Another less strong reason is because of our shared humanity. Everyone probably knows what it means to lose a loved one to death.”

Read also

Air India: Flight attendant who stood in for colleague on leave dies in tragic Plane crash

Family friend of Air India pilot speaks

Legit.ng previously reported that a family friend of the late Air India pilot, Captain Sumeet Subharwal, had opened up about his personality and character before his demise.

According to London-based publication The Standard, he reportedly considered leaving the airline business to care for his aged father in Mumbai. His mother had died in 2022.

Aviation experts have suggested various reasons for the crash, but investigators are now shining a light on the captain, who has a history of depression and mental health issues.

Joseph Omotayo, the HOD of the Human Interest Desk, contributed to this report, referencing how Clive Kunder's female friend remembered him.

Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a clinical psychologist for this report.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng