One Pilot Nearing Retirement, the Other Just Beginning: The Story of Air India Crash’s Two Aviators

One was a seasoned pilot nearing retirement, the other a young co-pilot just starting his aviation journey. Both Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder tragically lost their lives on Thursday when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner they were flying crashed near Ahmedabad.

Sabharwal and Kunder were among the 241 people who died in the Air India disaster. They were piloting the flight from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, carrying 230 passengers and 10 crew members.

Together, they had logged about 9,300 hours of flying experience—Captain Sabharwal alone had over 8,200 hours.

Captain Sabharwal: A Calm and Respected Veteran

Sumeet Sabharwal was deeply respected in the aviation community, known for his professionalism and calm nature. He lived in Mumbai’s Powai area and came from a family with strong ties to aviation. His father was a former DGCA official, and two of his cousins are also pilots.

A family friend told PTI, “Captain Sumeet was an excellent pilot, very calm and professional. His death is a huge loss for Air India.”

Just days before the crash, Sabharwal had told his elderly father that he planned to quit flying to take care of him full-time. Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande, who visited the family to offer condolences, shared this touching detail.

Clive Kunder: A Young Pilot with Deep Aviation Roots

Clive Kunder had 1,100 hours of flying experience and also came from an aviation family. His mother worked as a flight crew member, and he trained in aircraft maintenance at the Bombay Flying Club. Raised in Mumbai, Clive’s family recently moved from the Air India colony in Kalina to Borivali.

His sister, Kliene, expressed the family’s heartbreak and uncertainty. “My parents and I are in Sydney. We have no information yet on Clive’s condition, but we’re traveling to Ahmedabad to find out,” she told the Hindustan Times.

Actor Vikrant Massey, a family friend, shared his condolences on Instagram, saying, “My heart breaks for the families affected by this tragic crash. It’s especially painful knowing that my uncle lost his son, Clive.”

According to reports, the Dreamliner started to stall just minutes after reaching an altitude of 625 feet. The two pilots had less than a minute to react before the plane crashed into a residential building near Ahmedabad airport, bursting into flames on impact.

Although Air Traffic Control received a MAYDAY call, they lost communication with the cockpit shortly after and were unable to re-establish contact despite repeated attempts.