Air India: Family Friend of Pilot Who Flew Crashed Plane Shares How He Behaved before His Death
- Investigators have begun looking into the medical records of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot who flew the Air India flight that crashed after takeoff
- Sabharwal, 56, who has been an Air India employee since 1994, had 15,000 hours of flying experience before the air disaster, which claimed over 240 lives
- As investigations into the major air tragedy continue, Sanjeev Pai, a family friend of the deceased pilot, has opened up about his personality and character
The medical records of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot of the deadly Air India flight AI-171, are being investigated weeks after the plane crash.
Legit.ng learnt that his records have been handed to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which recently released its preliminary report into the cause of the crash.
Source: Getty Images
On June 12, the Air India Flight 171 crashed in Ahmedabad, India, killing 260 people, including 19 on the ground.
Aviation experts have suggested various reasons for the crash, but in a new twist, investigators are now shining their lights on the captain, who has a medical history of depression and mental health issues.
London's The Standard reported that Sabharwal reportedly considered leaving the airline to care for his aged father in Mumbai. His mother had died in 2022.
Captain Sabharwal's family friend speaks
Speaking with Press Trust of India, Sanjeev Pai, a family friend of Sabharwal, described him as a very good person and an experienced pilot.
Sanjeev, a retired wing commander who had worked with Air India staff, said the captain's death was a big loss to the Indian airline.
He noted that no one ever complained about Sabharwal, as he was professional in his dealings with people. In his words:
“I am a retired Wing Commander and have worked with Air India staff in every kind of situation. Captain Sumeet was a very good and experienced pilot.
"His death is a huge loss for Air India. He was such a calm and peaceful person, an excellent pilot. There were never any complaints about him - he was very professional in both his behavior and in his dealings with people.”
Source: Getty Images
The video of the interview with the family friend about Captain Sabharwal is below:
Woman who lost 3 family members to crash
A woman, Trupti Soni, whose three family members died in the fatal Air India crash, has spoken to the media about the huge loss.
Also, an Ahmedabad-based entrepreneur, Soni, said that the loss cannot be easily forgotten. In her words:
“There has not been a single day we have been able to forget the incident. It is Swapnil’s birthday today. The family decided to plant and mass distribute saplings as Swapnil was very fond of plants.”
She spoke further about the family interested in suing Boeing:
“We are going ahead with the litigation, with the (help of) US-based legal team, against Boeing. We have discussed the case with the law firm which has experience in aviation suits on behalf of the victims of earlier crash incidents.
"We are of the opinion that with the involvement of big players and international governments, the data may be manipulated. It is a fair question which all the families are right in raising — Why did it (the crash) happen? If not satisfied with the report, we will also seek an independent inquiry.”
Emotional solidarity helps grieving families - Expert
A mental health specialist, Duke Ezikpe Mma, has said the pain of tragic events like the Air India crash can be eased through collective sympathy and support.
He told Legit.ng:
“We live in a world filled with joyful moments but also tragic and painful experiences, such as the plane crash. The tragic incident of the air crash is one of such examples where the outpouring of sympathy can help to bring healing and comfort to mourning individuals.”
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that the colleagues of the late Air India pilot had opened up about his medical record after the plane crash.
Air India pilot's late neighbour speaks
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a neighbour who said that he lived close to the late Air India pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, had shared how he had behaved before his death.
He reportedly lived in Jalvayu Vihar, Powai, with his 90-year-old father. His family had a strong likeness for flying, with his two nephews following in his footsteps to pursue careers in aviation.
His older sister resided in Delhi, and it was evident that Captain Sabharwal's passion for flying had had a profoundly positive impact on his family. The Air India crash has left them heartbroken.
Joseph Omotayo, the HOD of the Human Interest Desk, contributed to this report, referencing reactions from a woman who lost three family members.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a mental health expert for this report.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
