Doomed Air India pilot's medical records probed amid reports of depression, other mental health struggles
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, was the lead pilot when the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner went down in Ahmedabad on June 12 — killing 241 people on board and leaving just one sole survivor.
Sabharwal, who had more than 15,000 flying hours under his belt at the time of the tragedy, had taken medical leave in recent years due to apparent mental health woes, The Telegraph reported.
Advertisement
5 Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the lead pilot of the doomed flight.
Family handout
5 A view shows the wreckage of an Air India aircraft, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, which crashed during take-off from an airport in Ahmedabad, India June 12, 2025.
REUTERS
'I have heard from several Air India pilots who told me he had some depression and mental health issues,' Mohan Ranganathan, a leading Indian aviation safety expert, said.
'He had taken time off from flying in the last three to four years. He had taken medical leave for that.'
Advertisement
Sabharwal had also taken bereavement leave following the 2022 death of his mom and had recently been weighing retirement to care for his aging father.
The pilot, who underwent a medical exam in September last year, would have been given clearance to return to work, Ranganathan said.
5 Thick black smoke rising from a residential area after Air India flight 171 crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
5 Crew clean up at the scene of the crash.
Saurabh Sirohiya/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Advertisement
5
Getty Images
'He must have been medically cleared by the company [Air India] doctors. They must have given the clearance certificate,' he said.
It comes after the preliminary report into the tragedy found that the jet's engine fuel cutoff switch had been flipped just three seconds after taking off.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
Is Reddit Still Down? What We Know About the Outage
Stockcam/Getty Images Reddit, the self-proclaimed "heart of the internet," suffered an outage, with the page not loading on Wednesday morning. Attempts to load both the mobile app and the desktop site were met with either error messages, or showed the page filled with posts from hours ago, with nothing recent populating. Issues spiked at 8:54 a.m. PT (11:54 a.m. ET), with reports sitting at about 134,000 as of 9:11 a.m. PT. "We've identified the cause of the issue and are working to address it," Reddit posted on its status page at 9:07 a.m. PT.
CNET
2 hours ago
- CNET
Reddit Is Down, But Has Identified the Issue and Is Working on It
stockcam / Getty Images Reddit, the self-proclaimed "heart of the internet," is currently suffering an outage, with the page not loading on Wednesday morning. Attempts to load both the mobile app and the desktop site were met with either error messages, or showed the page filled with posts from hours ago, with nothing recent populating. Issues spiked at 8:54 a.m. PT (11:54 a.m. ET), with reports sitting at about 134,000 as of 9:11 a.m. PT. "We've identified the cause of the issue and are working to address it," Reddit posted on its status page at 9:07 a.m. PT. Reddit didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on what is causing the outage, or an ETA on when it would be fixed.
Associated Press
14 hours ago
- Associated Press
Boiler Grants for Low-Income Households: What to Know
07/15/2025, London,England // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // Many low-income households in the UK struggle to heat their homes, especially during the colder months. Energy consumption can make up the majority of the budget for many residences, and an outdated, inefficient boiler only worsens the situation. If your boiler is outdated or faulty, you can expect even higher energy costs and less-than-comfortable conditions. To help resolve this situation, the British government has introduced the ECO4 scheme. It is for the sole purpose of offering zero-cost, replacement boilers for low-income individuals through the provision of free boiler grants. But how does the free boiler grant work? Who is eligible for the grant? What documents will you need? If you are a low-income household searching for support for the replacement of your boiler, this guide will detail all you need to know. Free Boiler Grants for Low-Income Individuals A free boiler replacement under the scheme known as the ECO4. It is one form of support provided for the replacement of inefficient, outdated boilers by energy-efficient, newer boilers for those from low-income backgrounds. This is one initiative the United Kingdom has undertaken towards the eradication of fuel poverty and increased energy efficiency country-wide. The scheme is funded by the bigger energy suppliers under the terms set by the government. The replacement boiler is funded by grants, so you will not need to pay for the replacement one yourself. By replacing the old boiler with one high efficiency, houses can save hundreds of pounds on their energy bills each year. This also reduces the United Kingdom's carbon footprint by eliminating energy waste where possible. Who Can Apply for a Boiler Grant? Not everyone is qualified for the free boiler grant. This is for individuals from low-income groups and those under the benefits provided by the government. To qualify, the following criteria need to be met: Qualifying Benefits for the Boiler Grant If you, or the one you live with, receive one of the benefits from the Government, you may be eligible for the replacement of your boiler for free: If you don't qualify for benefits but your household income is low, you could still qualify. In some circumstances, the total household income and the energy efficiency level of the property are taken into account when assessing your eligibility. Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for a Boiler Grant Applying for the grant is not complex, but you will require the appropriate documents and verification. To apply for the grant under the initiative by the ECO4, follow the steps provided here. Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility Before applying, you will need to determine whether you will be eligible for the support. Most energy suppliers and grant providers also make available online checkers where you can provide some general data about your house, your income level, and your existing boiler. Step 2: Home Survey If you pass the initial tests, one of the energy assessors will visit you for the inspection. They will: The home visit is free. And it ensures your property is suitable for replacement under the scheme. Step 3: Supply the Required Documents Once your house survey is finalised, you will require the following documents to support your application: If you rent your property from the landlord, you will also require the landlord's approval for the replacement of the boiler. Step 4: Installation Of New Boiler Once your request has been accepted, one of the installers will visit your property and replace your existing boiler with a new one. Installation is generally completed in just one day, and you can start saving right away from lower energy costs. Learn more about the Free Boiler Scheme and how you could qualify. Benefits of Having a New Boiler for Low-Income Families Replacing an old boiler with a modern, energy-efficient model offers many long-term benefits. 1. Lower Energy Consumption Modern boilers can also save you large amounts of money by being very energy efficient. Thus using less energy for the same amount of heat. This can save you around £300 to £500 yearly. 2. Improved Heating Efficiency Old boilers also fail to heat the house evenly. Thus causing cold spots and energy loss. New boilers make your house warm and cosy throughout the year. 3. Reduced Carbon Footprint Energy-efficient boilers produce less greenhouse gas. Thus playing their part in the Net Zero goal by the UK. If all the houses switch to efficient boilers, energy wastage will be reduced overall. 4. Fewer Repairs and Maintenance Costs Older boilers require frequent servicing. And this can prove very expensive over the lifespan. A new one is stronger and is under warranty, reducing the need for high-cost maintenance. 5. Increased Property Value A home fitted with an energy-efficient boiler is also easier to sell when the property is eventually required. Apply Today and Start Saving! Boiler grants provide low-income families the valuable option of upgrading from outdated, inefficient boilers to energy-efficient models. The ECO4 scheme guarantees the benefits of free replacement boilers for those in need. Thus, lessening the cost of their heat and the level of their home comfort. If you qualify, you can apply for the grant immediately. ECO Energy Services makes the process simple. And when you're accepted, you can save on your bills, heat your house, and stress less about your boiler. Original Source of the original story >> Boiler Grants for Low-Income Households: What to Know
