Mumbai: The mortal remains of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot of the ill-fated Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, were brought to his residence in Mumbai's Powai on Tuesday morning. His funeral is scheduled to take place at the Chakala crematorium later in the day.
Businessman and real estate developer Dr Niranjan Hiranandani was among those who paid their final respects to the veteran aviator. Visuals from near Sabharwal's residence show a huge crowd which gathered to pay their final respects and condolences to the grieving family. A pall of grief descended over Jal Vayu Vihar in Powai, a residential complex primarily inhabited by retired Air Force officers and aviation personnel.
Sumeet Had Plans To Take A Break From Flying
The tragedy has been particularly devastating for Captain Sabharwal’s 82-year-old father, a former senior official with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Just days before the crash, Sumeet had informed his father of his plans to take a break from flying and spend quality time with him. That long-anticipated visit will now remain unfulfilled.
The emotional toll on the family has been immense. His sister and two children flew in from Delhi immediately after the incident to support their grieving father. In light of his advanced age and fragile emotional condition, Powai police have cordoned off the area and restricted visitors to the residence.
According to official records, Captain Sabharwal had logged over 8,200 hours of flight time, although colleagues believe his real experience far exceeded that number. They pointed out that the DGCA’s current digital record system may not fully reflect the breadth of his aviation career, which spanned nearly 30 years with Air India.
Captain Sabharwal, a highly experienced pilot with nearly three decades in the skies, was at the helm of the London-bound flight when the tragic incident occurred. He was among the nine Mumbai-based crew members on board. The crash claimed the lives of all 232 passengers and crew, with the sole exception of Ramesh Vishwaskumar, who miraculously survived by jumping clear of the aircraft moments before impact.
