Capt Sumeet Sabharwal, who flew the ill-fated London-bound Air India flight from Ahmedabad, is an LTC with 8200 hours of experience, while his copilot, First Officer Clive Kundar, had 1100 hours of flying experience.
Ahmedabad plane crash: In a tragic mishap, a London-bound Air India flight with 242 passengers onboard crashed shortly after take off in Meghaninagar area near the Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat on Thursday. According to the DGCA, the aircraft was piloted by two veteran pilots, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had a combined 9,300 hours of flying experience.
Capt Sumeet Sabharwal is an LTC with 8200 hours of experience, while his copilot, First Officer Clive Kundar, had 1100 hours of flying experience, as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
“On 12th Jun, 2025, Air India B787 Aircraft VT-ANB, while operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, has crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board the aircraft, consisting of 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew,” said a senior DGCA official,” the DGCA said in a statement, according to ANI.
According to Air Traffic Control (ATC), the aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) from Runway 23, and gave a mayday call to the ATC. But after than, there was no response by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC, they said.
Almost immediately after departure from Runway 23, the aircraft crashed on the the ground outside the airport perimeter, and plumes of heavy black smoke were seen coming from the crash site, officials said.
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also reportedly aboard the ill-fated Air India flight, as per reports.
Meanwhile, the DGCA said it has dispatched a team to the accident spot for investigation, adding that fire tenders and rescue teams are at the scene.
Expressing grief over the incident, Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said he was personally monitoring the situation and all emergency response agencies have been put on high alert. “Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on the highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” Naidu was quoted as saying.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to Gujarat’s Chief Minister, Home Minister and the Police Commissioner regarding the plane crash and assured to provide Central government assistance.
Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, has given instructions to undertake immediate rescue and relief operations and immediate treatment of injured passengers in the wake of the Air India passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad on a war footing.
(With inputs from agencies)
