Father vows to defend son’s reputation amid Air India crash fallout
Pushkar Raj Sabharwala, 92, spoke to the BBC about the loss of his son, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the senior pilot of Air India Flight 171 that crashed days after take‑off from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025. He said the crash has left the family grieving, but he is determined to protect his son’s legacy before investigators release their next report.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bearing flight number AI171, carried 241 passengers and crew, all of who perished in the tragedy that killed 260 people. A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) indicated that the aircraft’s fuel‑control switches moved to a cut‑off position shortly after take‑off, cutting engine fuel supply. Subsequent pilot‑cockpit recordings suggested that the senior pilot may have caused the fuel cut, a claim that sparked a media firestorm and criticism from Indian pilots’ unions.
“He is no more, but I have to protect his reputation,” Pushkar Raj said. He explained that his son was a veteran aviator with over 15,600 flight hours, including nearly 8,600 on the Dreamliner. Raj, a retired aviation safety officer, described Sumeet as a kind, soft‑spoken man who often spoke to him on the phone, even before the fatal flight. He recalled that his son had planned to retire soon to care for him at their Mumbai home.
The father’s appeal follows a series of media reports from the Wall Street Journal and Reuters that implied the captain had deliberately cut fuel, an accusation the pilot’s family has refuted. The AAIB has called such reporting “selective and unverified”, warning against premature conclusions. In 2025, the Supreme Court of India also said the captain had no suggestion of fault in the initial findings.
In the aftermath, Pushkar Raj has seen strong support from family, friends and neighbours. Nevertheless, the emotional toll remains: “You see, each accident, the pilot is blamed,” he told the BBC. “He cannot defend himself. He is no longer and we must carry the weight.”
The family has moved a daughter and her son from Delhi to Mumbai to help care for him, and they, along with the community, are awaiting the final investigative report. Raj wants the truth about the crash but is also worried about what it may mean for his son’s legacy.
