Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal was a seasoned pilot
Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal was a seasoned pilot
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was a seasoned pilot of the ill-fated Air India Dreamliner bound to London’s Gatwick airport and who had 8,200 hours of flying experience. Powai resident Sabharwal, reportedly had ensured his father that he would quit his job and take care of him full time.
He was single and lived with his nonagenarian father.
According to Shiv Sena lawmaker Dilip Lande, who had visited Sabharwal’s residence to offer condolences told the media persons that only a few days ago, Sumeet had told his father that he would be calling it a day to take care of him full time.
As per neighbours, Sabharwals are deeply connected to the aviation industry. Captain Sabharwal’s father retired from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while his two nephews are also pilots.
A neighbour revealed that whenever he flew out, Sumeet would ask them to keep an eye on his father. He has now been left devastated.
Co-pilot and First Officer Clive Kunder had 1,100 hours of flying experience. He, too, comes from a family of aviation enthusiasts, with his mother being a former Air India flight attendant.
It’s learned from DGCA that Captain Sabharwal, issued a “Mayday” call to Air Traffic Control shortly before the plane lost contact. A “Mayday” call is a distress signal used primarily in aviation and maritime communication to indicate a life-threatening emergency.
The flight took off at 1:38 pm from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The failure to achieve the lift happened at a very low altitude of 825 feet, resulting to a crash and boeing bursting into a ball of fire.
News Edit KV Raman
