The father of the pilot involved in the recent Air India crash has broken his silence, vowing to protect his son's legacy as British authorities launch a fresh safety review. Speaking from his home in Mumbai, Rajesh Sharma, 62, insisted his son, Captain Vikram Sharma, was a seasoned professional whose judgment should not be questioned. 'My son lived for the skies.
He would never have made a reckless decision,' he said, his voice steady but eyes glistening. The crash, which claimed 158 lives, has triggered a political storm in India and a parallel investigation by the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which is scrutinising cockpit voice recordings and maintenance logs. Meanwhile, in the narrow lanes of Andheri East, where the Sharma family has lived for decades, neighbours describe a quiet, dedicated man who worshipped his father.
'He used to bring back little aeroplane models from every trip,' said Mrs. Patel, the family's elderly neighbour. The cultural shift here is palpable: a nation that once lionised its pilots now questions their infallibility.
For the Sharmas, this is not just a tragedy but a battle for honour. As the UK review unfolds, expect more families like theirs to emerge, fighting not just for answers but for the reputations of the loved ones they have lost.
