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Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Remains of 16 more victims retrieved from Air India crash site in Ahmedabad
Authorities have recovered the mortal remains of 16 more victims from the Air India flight 171's crash site in Ahmedabad, nearly three weeks after the tragic mishap on June 12. These remains are part of the confirmed death toll of 260 passengers and crew members who lost their lives in one of India's worst aviation accidents. A police officer stands in front of the wreckage of the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick Air India aircraft that crashed shortly after take-off on June 12. (REUTERS) The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed approximately 30 seconds after takeoff from Gujarat's Ahmedabad airport, ploughing into a hostel block of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar neighbourhood. The London-bound aircraft had 242 passengers and crew members. Only one man, seated near the emergency exit on 11A, survived the crash. 'Of the 16 mortal remains, families of six victims have accepted the bodies for final rites, while nine families have requested hospital authorities to conduct the final ceremonies on their behalf. We are still attempting to contact one family regarding the handover process,' an official at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital said. The recovery process has been ongoing for over three weeks, with rescue teams working through the debris field that spans both the crash site and the damaged medical college building. 'The identification of the body parts recently recovered, mainly bones, is being done at the Ahmedabad FSL and it takes about 48-72 hours for successful DNA matching. The identification process has been painstaking but thorough,' said a second official aware of the development. The crash, which occurred around 1:40pm on June 12, is described as one of India's worst aviation disasters. The aircraft began losing altitude shortly after takeoff and the flight crew issued a Mayday call before the aircraft crashed into the medical college hostel. Among the victims on the ground were junior doctors, staff at the hospital complex and people on the street below. One passenger walked out of the crash site after he was flung from the burning wreckage. The impact of the crash and the inferno that followed meant that remains of most of the victims, except for the 19 casualties on the ground, were charred beyond recognition, requiring officials to seek DNA samples from family members to help make the identification. The sole survivor, Viswashkumar Ramesh, has since been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home. HT was the first to report about the lone survivor from the crash after interviewing him at the hospital. 'He is still recovering from his injuries, especially the one on his leg. Also, he is under a lot of mental trauma from the incident, especially the loss of his younger brother who was seated in another bay of the aircraft,' a relative of the survivor in Diu said. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau continues to investigate the crash with assistance from the UK, the US, and Boeing officials. Both black boxes have been recovered from the crash site, and preliminary investigations are focusing on potential engine and flap issues. The crash also claimed the lives of at least four medical students who were in the hostel's dining area when the aircraft struck the building. Nearly 70 people in the building were injured in the impact. Of the 19 non-passengers who died in the crash, four of them succumbed to their injuries during treatment at the hospital. The last passenger to be identified was Anil Khimani, 32, a native of Bhuj in Kutch, whose remains were found at the crash site on June 25. His DNA matching was completed on June 27 night at the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar. The remains were handed over to his family on June 28.
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Ahmedabad plane crash: Farewell, captain 'Sabby', even sky gone cold after plane crash'
Mumbai, With white smoke emanating from Captain Sumeet Sabharwal's funeral pyre providing the dark backdrop to the sombre mood at the crematorium, his two colleagues from Air India bade final farewell to their friend-cum-hero "Sabby" whose captivating smile won hearts. Sabharwal was the pilot in command of the ill-fated Ahmedabad-London Gatwick Air India plane that crashed last week, killing 241 out of 242 people on board, and 29 on the ground. Air India captain and Sabharwal's colleague Kapil Kohal stood numbed, struggling to maintain his composure, as his friend's mortal remains were consigned to flames at Muktidham crematorium in Chakala. "Captain Sabharwal was our senior. We've known him for 35 years. He was a batch senior in training, and later, in Air India too," he told PTI Videos, his voice heavy with grief and pride. "He was our friend and colleague. Today, we see him as a hero," he added. In a profession where uniforms are crisp and demeanours composed, Captain Sabharwal stood out—not just for his flying skills, but for his grounded nature. "He lived simply. Two sets of clothes, a couple of pairs of slippers and shoes. That's all you'd find in his room," Kohal recalled. "Despite wearing four stripes on his shoulders, he remained humble and soft-spoken. The crowd today says everything about his character," he added. To those who knew him closely, "Sabby" was a quiet presence with a warm heart. "We used to call him 'Sag Sag' or just 'Sabby',' Kohal shared. "We'd often joke with him—'Why are you always so serious?' He wouldn't speak much on WhatsApp groups. But he'd send thoughtful personal messages, asking about our families, and our kids' milestones. He cared deeply, quietly.' Captain Shankar Chaudhary, another colleague and close friend, said what he would miss most was Captain Sabharwal's radiant smile. "Even after long-haul flights, he always greeted us with that same warm, reassuring smile. He was a happy-go-lucky guy," he said. "Now, every time I see that final image of the aircraft going down, it tears me apart. I wonder—what would I have done in his place?" he said. Captain Chaudhary also expressed frustration over early speculation on the cause of the crash. "People are already calling it pilot error. I'm shocked and deeply saddened. That Dreamliner is a powerful aircraft. It can practically fly vertically. Even if the gear or flap or whatever was out, the engine power could override everything else," he added. In the days since the tragedy, the skies above India have felt different to those who fly them. "I took a flight out just two days after it happened," said Captain Kohal. "And the skies felt cold. The morale of everyone—passengers, ground staff, dispatchers—was just… shattered. Even on the ATC, you could hear it in their voices, especially when I used my call sign, he added. He advised restraint while speculating the probable cause of the flight crash. "Authorities are doing their part, so let's wait. Even we, as professionals, are waiting to understand what exactly went wrong—so that we can retrain. In aviation, every crash, and every accident becomes a lesson—for the manufacturers, for us pilots, for the operators. Somewhere, something didn't align". Both Captain Kapil Kohal and Captain Shankar Chaudhary continue to operate wide-body flights from Ahmedabad to their respective destinations. "We will learn. We will study again, rise again, fly again—and above all, we will keep you safe again," Captain Kohal added.
Indian Express
12-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Ahmedabad-London flight crashed less than a minute after take-off: Data
The Ahmedabad-London Gatwick Air India AI-171 Boeing Dreamliner, which crashed within seven minutes of being cleared to fly and under a minute after actually taking off from Runway 23 of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA), had departed at 1.38 pm against the scheduled departure time of 1.10 pm. It would only attain an altitude of 625 metres before the flight communication was lost. Data from traces the flight's path only till the end of the airport's runway. Flight history for Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft VT-ANB, which crashed on Thursday, shows that the aircraft was 11 years old.
