Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Bharat Express Chairman and Managing Director Upendrra Rai revisited a pivotal chapter of his journalism career, offering viewers deep insights into his experiences covering the civil aviation sector, following the tragic Boeing crash in Ahmedabad.
The crash claimed 241 lives, sparing only one survivor, and included Gujarat’s former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani among the passengers.
Ten years in civil aviation journalism
CMD Upendrra Rai, who devoted a decade of his journalism career to covering civil aviation, recalled the events of 20 July 2007, when he was part of a media delegation accompanying Air India to Seattle to receive deliveries of Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft.
At that time, B Tulsi Das was the Chairman of Air India, and the airline was still a government-owned PSU.
Although there was a delay in the Dreamliner’s delivery due to required rectifications, CMD Upendrra Rai and others flew back in a Boeing 777, completing the journey to Delhi’s IGI Airport in over 14 hours.
He fondly recalled the ceremonial welcome that awaited the aircraft upon its arrival.
Boeing at the Paris air show
Bharat Express CMD also shared memories of the 2015 Paris Air Show, where he witnessed the display of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
He was accompanied by his wife during this visit and remembered the aircraft being hailed as one of the most powerful and safest ever built.
CMD Upendrra Rai noted that Boeing claimed its autopilot system was so advanced that the aircraft could land safely without manual intervention post-takeoff—a claim now under scrutiny after the Ahmedabad disaster.
Bharat Express CMD expresses shock over Ahmedabad plane crash
Reflecting on the tragedy, CMD Upendrra Rai said he had been monitoring developments closely, consulting pilots and former civil aviation ministers.
Based on his observations, Bharat Express CMD suspects human error may have contributed to the incident, although he acknowledged the possibility of a technical failure, especially related to the landing gear mechanism.
He recounted his conversation with a pilot friend of the late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who confirmed Sabharwal’s extensive flying experience, over 8,200 hours, and ruled out human negligence.
However, experienced pilots suggested issues like landing gear flag malfunctions could lead to such a sudden altitude drop.
CMD Upendrra Rai stressed that multiple agencies, including India’s DGCA, American federal authorities, and international aviation regulators, are investigating the crash.
Despite years of aviation safety protocols, he expressed disbelief that an aircraft once deemed the world’s safest could disintegrate in just 52 seconds.
Citing past Boeing controversies, such as the Boeing 737 MAX crashes, Bharat Express CMD concluded that the Ahmedabad incident is a grave moment in aviation history.
Offering condolences, he assured that Bharat Express stands in solidarity with the victims’ families.
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