The pilots of the Air India flight that crashed minutes after taking off with 242 people on board have been identified as Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder.
Photos of them have been shared on the social media as details of their desperate mayday call emerged.
Flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad Airport in western India and was supposed to get to London Gatwick. Sadly, it crashed just moments after getting off the ground. It departed at 1.39pm local time (9.09am BST) from runway 23.
The emergency call made by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an experienced pilot with over 8,200 hours of flying, happened shortly after takeoff. “Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift,” he said desperately.
India’s aviation regulator confirmed the pilot’s mayday call to air traffic control. However, there was no response from the plane after that.
Despite obvious efforts, the pilots failed to raise the plane’s nose. It crashed just 1.5 miles past the runway, in the crowded Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat’s city.
It has been confirmed that there has only bee one survivor, passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh who was believed to be in seat 11a.
229 passengers and 12 crew members have been reported dead, according to Air India.
“Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew,” they wrote in a statement on X.
The Chairman of the company, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, expressed his condolences. “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India flight, AI171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”
“At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.
“Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families.”
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