The pilots of the tragic Air India Flight 171 plane crash that killed more than 290 people have been identified.
On Thursday, an Air India Boeing 787 aircraft flying from the Ahmedabad Airport to London crashed into a hostel at the B. J. Medical College, moments after takeoff. According to officials, more than 290 people died in the tragic crash, though the exact number is still unclear.
The plane was leaving the Ahmedabad Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India and was scheduled to land at the Gatwick Airport in London, United Kingdom. Officials are still investigating what caused the horrific disaster.
According to News18 India, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar commanded the Boeing 787 aircraft that crashed. The outlet reports that Captain Sabharwal had more than 8,200 hours of flight experience and helped train other crew members.
First Officer Kundar had around 1,100 hours of flying experience. News18 India reports that he “was relatively new to commercial aviation but fully certified to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.”
232 passengers and 12 crew members were on the Boeing 787. According to media reports, the passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian.
World Leaders Offer Condolences After Air India Flight 171
After the horrific crash, world leaders came together to offer their condolences. President of India Droupadi Murmu wrote the following on X/Twitter:
“The loss of lives after the plane crash at Ahmedabad is utterly devastating. My heart goes out to the bereaved families. The country has also lost the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani Ji in the tragedy. Rupani Ji was always committed to people’s welfare. I express my heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers.”
President of France Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, United States President Donald Trump, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo are among the world leaders who offered their condolences in statements.
