Heartfelt Farewell: Captain Sumeet Sabharwal's Emotional Last Rites in Mumbai

Mumbai, June 17 (PTI): The last rites of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot in command of the Air India plane that tragically crashed in Ahmedabad last week, were conducted in Mumbai on Tuesday. The emotional ceremony saw his grief-stricken father bidding a heart-wrenching, tearful farewell before the cremation.

The last rites took place at an electric crematorium in Chakala, a suburb of Mumbai, where family members gathered to pay their final respects.

Sabharwal's mortal remains had been transported from Ahmedabad to Mumbai earlier in the day.

Following the rituals, Captain Sabharwal's father and other relatives departed from the crematorium at approximately 11:15 am.

The casket containing the remains of the 56-year-old veteran pilot had arrived at Mumbai airport earlier that morning and was taken to his residence at Jal Vayu Vihar in Powai, accompanied by his family.

A substantial number of friends, relatives, and local residents were present outside Sabharwal's home to pay homage.

Businessman Niranjan Hiranandani and local MLA Dilip Lande were also among those who visited to offer their respects.

Sabarwal's father, Pushkaraj, along with other family members, were visibly somber as they paid homage.

Afterwards, a hearse carried the pilot's body to the electric crematorium at Chakala.

The Air India flight AI-171, en route to London with 242 passengers and crew, met with tragedy in Ahmedabad on June 12.

All but one aboard the plane perished, along with 29 individuals on the ground, when the aircraft crashed into a medical complex.

The ill-fated flight was piloted by Captain Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar as co-pilot.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) noted that Sabharwal had accrued 8,200 hours of flight experience, while Kundar had 1,100 hours.

The aircraft took off from Ahmedabad airport at 1:39 pm from runway 23.

Shortly after takeoff, Sobharwal issued a 'Mayday' distress call, indicating a full emergency, to the Air Traffic Control at Ahmedabad.

Moments later, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171) crashed into the medical complex situated just outside the airport compound.

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