Air India flight AI-171, which was going to London’s Gatwick Airport, was crashed on Thursday afternoon on Thursday afternoon. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft consisted of 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The aircraft was commanded by Captain Sumit Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. This tragic accident has shocked the entire country.
Who was Captain Sumit Sabharwal?
Captain Sumit Sabharwal was an experienced line training Captain (LTC), who had an 8,200 -hour flight experience. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Sumit Sabharwal successfully conducted several complex flights in his career. Given his expertise and experience, he was entrusted with the responsibility of this long distance flight. Prior to the accident, he sent a Made call (emergency message) to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) immediately after the takeoff, indicating a serious emergency in aviation. However, after this the aircraft lost contact with ATC.
Who was the first officer Clive Kunder?
First officer Clive Kunder was in the role of co-pilot in this flight. He had 1,100 hours of flight experience. Although he was less experienced than Sabharwal, his training and skills were considered high. According to DGCA, Kundar assisted Captain Sabharwal in this flight, but the cause of the accident is not yet clear.
How did the accident happen?
The aircraft flew from Runway 23 at 1:39 pm. A few seconds after the takeoff, the aircraft achieved a height of 625 feet and then began to fall down rapidly. The accident occurred in Mehmaninagar area, where the aircraft collided with a doctors hostel. Heavy fuel caused a fierce fire after the accident, causing black smoke to be seen far away. NDRF, police and fire department teams immediately reached the spot in rescue operations.
Investigation and response
DGCA has started investigating the accident and Boeing’s technical team can also cooperate in the investigation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel have directed immediate relief works. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “heartbreaking”. Flights at Ahmedabad Airport have been temporarily suspended due to the accident.
Significantly, this accident has become a tragic chapter in Indian aviation history. Despite the presence of experienced pilots like Captain Sumit Sabharwal and Clive Kundar, the accident raises many questions. Only after the investigation is completed, the exact causes of the accident will be known.
