- Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a pilot for Air India, is being hailed as a hero for diverting his falling plane away from a densely populated area near Ahmedabad airport, potentially saving hundreds of lives.
- Air India flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all but one of the 242 passengers and crew, as well as at least 29 people on the ground, including medical students.
- Locals believe Mr Sabharwal deliberately steered the Boeing 787 Dreamliner away from their apartment building.
- A funeral for the veteran pilot has been held in Powai, where a friend said he “sacrificed his life to save others”.
- Investigators suspect the crash was caused by a rare loss of power from both engines; they are analysing the flight data recorders to determine the cause.
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