Captain Kapil Kohal, a long-time friend and fellow Air India pilot, called Sabharwal “sad sack” but remembered him as a “hero” with a “gentle soul”. “He was my senior at flying school and later in Air India. We called him ‘Sad Sack’ because of his melancholic eyes, but he was deeply charismatic and always ready to help.”

Black box recordings reveal Sumeet Sabharwal remained composed as his first officer, Clive Kunder, appeared to panic when the supply to both engines was suddenly cut.

A cockpit recording of dialogue between pilots supports the view the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines, said a source briefed on U.S. officials' early assessment of evidence.