Hundreds gathered in Mumbai today to honour Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the Air India pilot who has been hailed as a hero for limiting casualties on the ground during last week’s crash.Captain Sabharwal issued a mayday call to air traffic controllers moments after takeoff and residents on the ground have credited him with avoiding a large residential building that was directly on the flight path.

Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 carrying 242 people, crashed after taking off from Ahmedabad on its way to London.

Flight AI 159 was planned to depart Ahmedabad, India, at 1.10pm local time on Tuesday, and arrive at Gatwick airport at 6.25pm BST. Air India’s website shows the flight was initially delayed by one hour and 50 minutes but has since been cancelled.

At least 270 died when the Air India flight crashed into the campus of a medical college in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff on Thursday. Only one passenger among the 242 aboard survived. At least 29 others on the ground, including five medical students inside the hostel, were also killed.

Air India has faced numerous deadly incidents, including the recent crash of flight 171, which killed 241, and past tragedies like the 1985 bombing and 2020 crash.

The technical investigation into the crash of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick is being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The families of three of the British victims of last week's Air India crash in Ahmedabad have criticised the UK government's response to the disaster, saying they "feel utterly abandoned".

Aviation expert Captain Steve Scheibner believes dual engine failure caused the Air India crash near Ahmedabad. New footage shows the ram air turbine deployed, indicating an emergency. A survivor reported a loud bang and flickering lights.