'Will Call Once I Reach London': Veteran Air India Pilot's Broken Promise To 88-Year-Old Father

Last Updated:June 13, 2025, 17:03 IST

Captain Sumit Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with 8,200 hours of flying experience, had promised his father that he would quit his job and take care of him

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (Left) and First Officer Clive Kundar (Right).

In the bustling heart of Ahmedabad, the world stood still on June 12 as Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, carrying 242 people—including 230 passengers and 12 crew members—plummeted into a medical college near the airport, engulfing the surroundings in a devastating inferno.

Piloting the doomed flight was Captain Sumit Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with 8,200 hours of flying experience. His dedication to aviation was matched only by his love for his family. Before flying to London, Sabharwal had assured his 88-year-old father: “I’ll call you once I reach London." Tragically, that call never came.

The crash claimed the lives of all on board, except for one: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national seated in 11A, who survived with minor injuries.

His house in the Powai area of suburban Mumbai may be bustling with people who have come to offer their condolences, but Sabharwal’s father now finds himself alone amid the chaos. He lost his wife two years ago.

Three days before the fatal crash, Sumit had promised his father: “I’m going to leave my job now and take care of you."

The family’s association with aviation is not new. Captain Sabharwal’s father retired from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while his two nephews are also pilots, NDTV reported.

A probe after the tragedy revealed that Captain Sabharwal had issued a “Mayday" call to the Air Traffic Control shortly before the plane lost contact, said DGCA. The flight failed to achieve altitude, resulting in a crash after which the Dreamliner burst into flames.

Captain Sabharwal’s co-pilot and First Officer Clive Kunder had 1,100 hours of flying experience and his mother was a former Air India flight attendant.

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M...Read More

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M...

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