A heartbreaking tragedy struck India on June 12 when an Air India flight, shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, crashed in a densely populated area near a medical college. But as the investigation unfolds, some speculate that the pilots may have taken one final heroic action that helped avoid even greater catastrophe.
The Crash: A Brief Overview
The aircraft, reportedly a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, encountered serious issues within moments of departure. Less than a minute after lifting off, the plane went down, ultimately colliding with a building associated with a nearby medical college.
The disaster has claimed 270 lives, including individuals both onboard and on the ground. Miraculously, only one passenger survived to recount the terrifying event.
Among the deceased was Arjun Patoliya, a father of two. His journey was a deeply personal one — he was fulfilling the last wish of his late wife, Bharti, to scatter her ashes in Gujarat. Tragically, now both their children, aged four and eight, are left without parents.
A Potentially Conscious Decision?
Though the death toll is devastating, some observers believe the outcome could have been far worse. Speculation has emerged that the pilot may have deliberately guided the aircraft away from more heavily populated zones.
The flight was operated by two experienced aviators — Officer Clive Kunder and Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who together had logged more than 9,000 flight hours.
Interestingly, Civil Hospital Ahmedabad, a massive facility housing over 3,000 beds, sits just 5 kilometers from the airport. Despite the proximity, the aircraft did not crash into the hospital. Instead, it went down near a hostel complex for medical students, an area thought to be less densely populated.
