Breaking: Heartbreaking Last Words of Air India Pilot Revealed by His Father A Journey of Grief and Struggle Unfolds Before Tragic Crash
The captain of an Air India aircraft that tragically crashed last month, claiming the lives of 260 individuals, had made a heartfelt promise just hours before departure to return home. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, at the age of 56, was the senior pilot flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which met its catastrophic fate on June 12th as it descended into a residential area in Ahmedabad. This disaster resulted in the loss of 241 lives on board, as well as 19 individuals on the ground.
Captain Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with an impressive 8,200 hours logged in the cockpit, is currently under investigation by authorities. There are suspicions surrounding his actions prior to the accident, specifically that he may have switched off the fuel switches of the aircraft, which led to a significant loss of power. The flight had taken off at 1:38 PM, but after just around 30 seconds of air time, the plane lost power and ultimately crashed. The destruction was further exacerbated by an enormous fireball that erupted upon impact, tragically taking nearly all those onboard, with only one survivor.
Preliminary reports regarding this heart-wrenching tragedy indicate that two fuel switches, which are essential for starting or shutting down the engines and typically remain on during flight, were turned off shortly before the crash. This action deprived the engines of necessary fuel, leading directly to the catastrophic outcomes witnessed that day. The incidents in the cabin illustrate a moment of panic and confusion; after Sabharwal and his co-pilot, Clive Kunder, aged 28, recognized their grave mistake, there were frantic efforts made to rectify the situation and try to regain control.
Sources familiar with the investigation indicate that data retrieved from the aircraft’s black box supports the theory that the captain was responsible for this critical malfunction, having interrupted the fuel supply to the engines. However, on a more personal note, his final words to a guard in his living complex, where his elderly father also resided, painted a different picture. “Please take care of Dad. I’ll be back soon,” he reportedly said just hours before the ill-fated flight.
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the Air India crash, reports have surfaced that they are also examining the medical history of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, as he was known to be experiencing emotional distress.
According to preliminary reports, just seconds after taking off on June 12th, two fuel switches in the cockpit of Air India Flight 171 were switched off.
Witnesses were shocked as the aircraft briefly disappeared behind trees and building structures before an enormous fireball erupted on the horizon.
Friends and colleagues of Sabharwal are vehemently rejecting any notion that he could be to blame for this devastating event. They describe him as a gentle soul and a remarkable pilot, who had never experienced any major incidents prior to this tragic occurrence. Neil Pais, 61, a former colleague, shared with The Telegraph, “He was truly one of the kindest people you could ever travel with. He was anything but ordinaryso humble and respectful. Always with a smile when speaking with you.” He added, “I never saw him raise his voice or lose his composure. Yet, he never compromised on his work or the safety of others. If there was ever an issue, he would bring it up, but always in the kindest manner possible.”
Another close friend and fellow pilot, Captain Kapil Kohal, described Sabharwal as a true hero with a gentle spirit. Despite his nickname “Sad Sack,” a reference to his melancholic eyes, Sabharwal was deeply charismatic and always eager to lend a helping hand. However, the sadness that his peers noticed was the result of a deeper tragedyhe had been grappling with the grief of losing his mother in 2022, and subsequently went through a separation from his wife. In a bid to provide support for his aging father, Pushkaraj, he relocated from Delhi to Mumbai.
The wreckage of Air India Flight 171 can be seen in this image after the aircraft crashed on June 12, 2025, in a residential area near the Ahmedabad airport.
Investigations into the tragic crash are underway, focusing on analyzing the pilot’s behavior leading up to the disaster. Reports suggest that several Air India pilots have confirmed concerns over Sabharwal’s mental health status prior to the fateful flight.
It has been indicated that he took grief leave following his mothers death; however, it is also believed that he had undergone medical evaluations before the fatal crash. Friends have also revealed that Sabharwal considered leaving his pilot career altogether to devote himself fully to caring for his 90-year-old father.
According to Sunil Lokhande, the security officer in his apartment complex in Mumbai, Sabharwal would often spend two to three days visiting his father and would take him on evening walks. He would also purchase fresh fruits and vegetables to share, generously providing Lokhande with funds for meals as well.
Such details raise further questions about why the pilot might have chosen to turn off the fuel switches mere seconds after take-off, a move that aviation experts have described as utterly bizarre. While there is no cockpit video evidence clearly showing which pilot operated the switches, initial assessments from U.S. authorities indicate that the conversation recordings could suggest the captain was responsible for the decision.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported, referring to U.S. pilots familiar with the AAIB report, that during this critical phase of flight, [First Officer] Kunder would have been occupied with pulling back the Dreamliner’s controls.
Images showcase the devastation that followed the aircraft’s crash into a residential building. In Powai, Mumbai, a colleague of Captain Sabharwal told The Daily Telegraph that he was “truly a gentleman.”
On Sunday, a preliminary report released by Indian authorities raised troubling questions regarding why the pilot would have manually shut off the switches and whether this action was intentional or a catastrophic error. The report noted, “In the cockpit voice recording, one pilot asks the other, ‘Why did he turn it off?’ to which the other pilot responds that he did not.” Pilots routinely manage the fuel switches at the appropriate moments during a flight; however, in this case, the fuel was cut off immediately after take-off and the landing gear was not retracted.
During the take-off, the co-pilot was actively flying the aircraft while the captain was monitoring. Moments later, the report indicated, the switches were re-engaged, beginning the process to reignite the engines. One of the engines was successfully reignited but had yet to regain power, while the other was attempting to recover its thrust.
However, investigation teams discovered the switches in a shut position at the crash site. Prior to the flight, both pilots had taken adequate rest breaks and passed breathalyzer tests ensuring their fitness for duty, according to the reports.
People gather to observe the wreckage of the crashed Air India plane in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Before the flight, both pilots had appropriately managed their rest periods and were found fit for duty following alcohol tests.
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