Captain Sandeep Gupta, who had been serving as the Chief Pilot for Air India's long-range A350 aircraft fleet since last year, tragically succumbed to dengue in New Delhi on Wednesday evening, as confirmed by two airline officials.
Mumbai: Air India’s Chief Pilot for the A350 fleet, Captain Sandeep Gupta, has passed away after a brief illness on Wednesday.
Captain Gupta, based in Delhi and 55 years old, assumed the role of Chief Pilot for the A350 wide-body aircraft in July last year. An Air India official stated, “His sudden demise has left us in shock. He had a fever and was admitted to the hospital. It is reported that he suffered from severe dengue.” Captain Gupta leaves behind his wife, a daughter, and a son.
A colleague mentioned, “Just last week, Captain Gupta had returned from Toulouse after conducting a test flight for the A350. He appeared healthier and happier.” Another official added, “He was a flight safety expert in one of the disciplinary inquiries conducted by Air India. He consistently advocated for the cockpit crew’s vital role in ensuring aircraft safety.”
The A350-900 is scheduled to make its debut in India this year, with Air India having ordered 40 of these wide-body aircraft. The first A350-900 is expected to be delivered to Air India by the end of 2023.
Before becoming the Chief Pilot for the A350 fleet, Captain Gupta served as the Chief Pilot for the A320 fleet. He also had a previous posting at Air India’s Central Training Establishment in Hyderabad.
