Tragedy in the Skies: Gujarat Plane Crash Leaves India in Mourning
I want to take a moment to talk about the tragic and deeply unsettling incident that unfolded in Gujarat just recently. A devastating crash involving an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner has left the entire nation reeling. The aircraft, designated flight AI171 and bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Onboard were 241 souls — 229 passengers and 12 crew members — and tragically, all but one perished in what is now one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory.
This isn’t just a number — these were real people. Among them was Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a highly experienced pilot with over 8,200 hours of flying time. Some colleagues suggest his actual flying experience was likely even greater, given that not all of it may have been recorded in DGCA’s newer tracking platform. Known for his quiet, diligent professionalism, Sabharwal had flown a variety of aircraft in his career, including the Airbus A310, Boeing 777, and the Dreamliner. His co-pilot, First Officer Clive Kunder, had logged 1,100 hours — not yet enough to command a commercial flight, but he was assisting as part of his training journey. Kunder’s death has shaken many, with actor Vikrant Massey sharing that the young pilot was his cousin, Clifford Kunder’s son.
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- Tragedy in the Skies: Air India Crash in Ahmedabad Leaves Nation in Mourning
But perhaps the most haunting part of this story is the survival of one man: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A. He emerged from the wreckage — bloodied, burned, and in shock. His account is harrowing. He saw the aircraft plummet. He witnessed the horror firsthand as fire engulfed his fellow passengers and the fuselage tore apart around him. But somehow, a crack opened up — and he leapt. He ran. He lived. Sadly, his own brother, seated just across the aisle, didn’t make it.
The aircraft had climbed normally at first. But within seconds, a distress call was issued. Witnesses reported unusual engine sounds, followed by a nosedive. The plane then slammed into a multi-storey hostel building that housed medical students — five of whom also lost their lives on the ground. In a matter of moments, a routine flight turned into an unimaginable catastrophe.
Now, as the investigation unfolds, many are reflecting on how such a modern aircraft — equipped with advanced safety systems — could fail so catastrophically. This Dreamliner, like others in its class, is fitted with cutting-edge warning technologies. Yet, something went terribly wrong.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited both the crash site and the hospital where Mr. Ramesh is now recovering under tight security. The nation’s eyes are on this story not just for its scale of tragedy but also because of the lone survivor — whose life, for reasons we may never fully comprehend, was spared.
This isn’t just about technical failure or pilot experience — it's a tragic reminder of life's unpredictability and fragility. We owe it to every victim to find out what happened, ensure accountability, and do everything in our power to prevent such a loss from ever happening again.
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