New Delhi: Air India’s long-range A350 aircraft fleet’s chief pilot Captain Sandeep Gupta died after a brief illness at the age of 55.
According to an airline official, Gupta succumbed to dengue, and is survived by wife, a daughter and a son.
“Captain Gupta, who was battling dengue, was rushed to a hospital on Wednesday afternoon where he passed away,” said an official who did not want to be named.
Gupta, who joined Air India in 1988, served as chief pilot of its Airbus A320 fleet and was in-charge of Air India’s Central Training Establishment in Hyderabad.
Last year, he was appointed Air India’s A350 aircraft fleet chief pilot as part of efforts to strengthen its fleet and improve operations, following Tata Group’s takeover of the loss-making airline in 2022.
Known for his expertise in flight safety, Gupta recently from France after conducting an A350 test flight in Toulouse.
Air India is scheduled to introduce the A350-900 in India this year, with Captain Gupta having played a crucial role in the fleet.
