Last Flight: The Tragic Death of a Pilot

Jalvayu Vihar, as its name suggests, is a residential complex built for air force and naval personnel in Mumbai. Spread out over seven buildings, with a large park at one part, a badminton court, and even a little spot to practice your golf swing, it is an oasis of calm in an area in Mumbai – Powai – which is rapidly, like the rest of the city, becoming an urban mess. Taking an evening walk here is a delightful experience, the joyful din of children running to and fro only to be punctuated by the pleasantries shared by the many retired naval and air force officials out on their walks.

On the evening of 12 June however a noticeable pall of gloom hung in the air. People were still out on their walks, but they did so mournfully and silently, occasionally pausing to share and confirm the news. Some of their faces looked like they had seen a ghost. The children were still running about, but those who were slightly older stood askance.

Outside one of the buildings, stood confirmation of the news that they had feared all afternoon. A large contingent of media personnel stood there, along with the local MLA, Dilip Lande of the Shiv Sena. The captain of the ill-fated flight, AI 171, which had crashed in Ahmedabad after taking off for London, whose name they had all read in the news, Sumeet Sabharwal, was indeed the same Sumeet Sabharwal who lived in that building.

Sabharwal was an experience pilot. He had logged over 8,200 hours of flying experience, and held the post of Line Training Captain. His co-pilot, First Officer Clive Kundar, was also relatively experienced, with a flying experience of around 1,100 hours. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the crew aboard the flight issued a Mayday call to the Air Traffic Control (ATC), signalling a life-threatening emergency, moments after take-off, but did not respond despite repeated attempts by the ATC to establish contact. Videos of the crash that have gone viral online show the flight taking off from the runway, and then crashing moments later. A huge ball of fire and smoke went up in the air probably because the aircraft’s tank was fully filled up for a 10 hour flight.

Back in the housing society, the thoughts of most turned to Sabharwal’s father, a retired naval officer well into his 80s, with whom he lived alone. Sabharwal has a sister, who lives, it is said, in Delhi, and who was currently on her way home.

Sabharwal’s father, a widower, is a much-loved figure in the housing society. Often seen strolling in the complex in the evenings, he is a genial figure, always ready with a smile or some pleasantries. Until a few years ago, the senior Sabharwal would be accompanied by his wife, but she had passed away. “It is such a sad period for the family,” a neighbour said. “Aunty passed some years back, and now this news.” Another resident, pointing to the love the senior Sabharwals shared, said, “They were a couple who used to walk hand in hand, and give blessing to whoever met them.”

After the news of the crash emerged, many of the neighbours kept watch over the senior Sabharwal for the rest of the day. Later in the evening, some TV channel reporters and the local politician were allowed in. The senior Sabharwal sat on a chair with clasped hands, accepting condolences, but not speaking much. “I tried talking to him,” Lande said. “But there were no words coming, just tears falling from his face.”

Outside, the evening had turned dark, and the whole air stood limp with sadness.

AhmedabadAir IndiaLondonpilotplane crashSumeet Sabharwal