New Delhi (National Times) In the ongoing investigation into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, attention has now turned to the mental health and medical records of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot in command, following claims that he may have been suffering from depression.
The 56-year-old veteran pilot, who had logged over 15,000 flying hours and was months away from retirement, reportedly took time off in recent years and was deeply affected by the death of his mother in 2022. He had since moved from Delhi to Mumbai to care for his aging father and was even contemplating early retirement to devote himself fully to his family, according to those close to him.
As per The Telegraph, investigators have reviewed his Class I medical examination records from September 2024, which he passed, clearing him for commercial flying. However, speculation has emerged after several Air India colleagues told aviation safety expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan that Sabharwal had taken time off in recent years due to mental health concerns. “Air India doctors must have medically cleared him,” Ranganathan noted, adding that the system should have flagged any serious concerns if they existed.
The preliminary crash report, released last week, shifted focus away from technical failure and toward possible human error, specifically pointing to the fuel control switches being turned off during takeoff. This catastrophic action led to both engines losing thrust just seconds after liftoff.
Cockpit voice recordings reportedly captured one pilot questioning the other about who cut off the fuel supply, with both denying having done so. While the report avoided assigning blame, it has cast a shadow over the roles of both Captain Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, 28, who was at the controls during the take-off. According to protocol, Sabharwal, as the monitoring pilot, had his hands free and would have been in a position to access the fuel controls.
The Federation of Indian Pilots and the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association have both condemned the direction of the investigation, calling it speculative and disrespectful to the professionalism of the flight crew. “Assigning blame before a transparent, evidence-based inquiry is complete is not only irresponsible but deeply distressing to families and colleagues,” FIP said in a separate statement.
Those who knew Captain Sabharwal remember him as a devoted son and a dignified professional. Neighbors in Powai, Mumbai, recalled seeing him walk his elderly father regularly. “He told me, ‘Just one or two more flights… then I’m going to just be with Papa,’” shared Savitri Budhania, an elderly resident of his building.
Neil Pais, a former colleague, described Sabharwal as a “thorough gentleman,” adding that any concerns about pilot mental health would typically be dealt with promptly by Air India’s operational and medical departments. “They don’t let anyone fly if there’s even a shred of doubt,” he said.
Meanwhile, First Officer Clive Kundar, who came from a family with an aviation background, had just begun his flying career, logging 1,100 hours. Raised in Mumbai’s Kalina colony, he was considered a rising talent in Air India’s cockpit roster.
While Air India has declined to comment officially, a Tata Group source stated that there was no record of recent medical leave for Sabharwal and emphasized that both pilots had cleared their mandated health checks.
As families of the 241 deceased await clarity, many have criticized the findings so far, calling the fuel switch explanation “a slap in the face.” Investigators continue to analyze all variables in what remains one of the most devastating aviation tragedies in recent Indian history.
The final report is expected in the coming months, though demands for accountability and transparency grow louder with each passing day.
