Who Was Flying Air India Flight AI‑171?
Pilot‑In‑Command: Captain Sumeet Sabharwal
• **Name**: Captain Sumeet Sabharwal
• **Role**: Line Training Captain (LTC) at Air India
• **Experience**: Over 8,200 flying hours 1
Captain Sabharwal was actively training fellow pilots while regularly flying international routes. He was piloting Flight AI‑171 during a routine takeoff when he issued a clear “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” distress call shortly after liftoff—indicating a critical in‑flight emergency 2.
First Officer: Clive Kundar
• **Name**: First Officer Clive Kundar
• **Experience**: Around 1,100 flight hours 3
Co‑piloting alongside Sabharwal, Kundar had notable experience, including international sector operations. The two faced a sudden emergency during climb, but no specific details on their response beyond the Mayday call have been released.
Key Moments & Background
- The aircraft—a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (VT‑ANB), first flown in 2013—had flown many successful international missions 4.
- Flight AI‑171 departed Ahmedabad at around 1:38 PM IST on June 12, 2025. Less than five minutes later, ATC received the pilots’ urgent Mayday and lost contact shortly after 5.
- Radar data shows the aircraft climbed only to about 625 feet—far below cruising altitude—before it sharply descended and crashed 6.
- While Captain Sabharwal’s Mayday indicated a serious in‑flight failure, no further cockpit recordings have been released yet. DGCA and Air India are coordinating for flight‑recorder analysis 7.
Experience & Professionalism
Both pilots were seasoned professionals:
- Captain Sabharwal: With over 8,200 hours, his role as an LTC suggests deep trust from Air India in his judgment and technical skills 8.
- First Officer Kundar: With around 1,100 hours, he was a competent co‑pilot supporting standard protocols during emergencies 9.
Their collective professionalism is reflected in the prompt issuance of the Mayday call—a best‑practice emergency protocol—suggesting they acted swiftly under pressure.
Next Steps in Investigation
As rescue operations continue, DGCA technical teams—backed by Boeing experts—will:
- Retrieve and analyze flight and cockpit‑voice recorders.
- Examine aircraft maintenance history and telemetry data.
- Interview air traffic control regarding communication and response time.
The investigation will clarify the precise cause—whether mechanical, structural, or due to other factors.
Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes publicly available from official investigations.
