‘My Son’s Reputation is Tarnished’: Air India Crash Pilot’s Father Demands New Probe

The father of a pilot killed in the Air India crash calls the preliminary investigation “deficient” and accuses officials of leaking information to blame his son.

September 17, 2025: Pushkaraj Sabharwal, the father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, one of the pilots of the crashed Air India flight AI171, has demanded a formal investigation into the June 12 accident that killed 260 people. In a letter to the civil aviation secretary and the AAIB Director General, Sabharwal has accused the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary findings of tarnishing his son’s reputation.

The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 241 passengers and 19 crew members on board.

Disputing Preliminary Findings

According to Sabharwal, selective leaks from the investigation have led to widespread speculation that his 56-year-old son was under “tremendous psychological pressure” and contemplating suicide. In his letter, Sabharwal refutes these claims, calling them “innuendos” that have “very adversely affected” his own health and the reputation of his son. He highlights that Captain Sabharwal’s divorce occurred 15 years ago and his mother’s death was over three years prior, and in that time, he had flown over 100 flights without incident.

Sabharwal is demanding that the government order a formal inquiry under Rule 12 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, which allows for a full probe when deemed “expedient.” He also criticized the preliminary AAIB report for being “deficient, diversionary & discrepant,” claiming it alludes to the pilot’s state of mind while giving “clean chits” to the aircraft’s manufacturer.

Ministry of Civil Aviation officials have responded, stating that they are “committed to a free fair and holistic probe” and have ensured that “all the resources that are required to conduct a fair probe have been ensured by the government to adhere to international protocol.”

As the investigation continues, the conflict between the victim’s family and the investigating body brings to light the complexities and emotional toll of air crash inquiries.