"I Want to Own the Plane": How a Minor’s "Fun Reel" Grounded an Aspiring Pilot’s Dreams

Sahil Dhaneshra's modest room in West Delhi stands as a heartbreaking shrine to unfulfilled dreams, untouched since his death on February 3, 2026. The 23-year-old engineering aspirant had plastered his walls with motivational mantras: "Obsession is gonna beat talent," "D for dream and discipline," and on the ceiling, "2025 will be my year – $1,000,000 year!" A bold poster declared, "They want to fly first class. I want to own the plane." Dozens of medals from school debates, quizzes, and sports adorned the walls, beside stacked books, his laptop, and framed achievements reflecting his relentless drive.

The nightmare unfolded near Dwarka Sector-11 around 1:00 pm when a black SUV, hurtling at over 100 km/h, smashed head-on into Sahil's sports bike as he overtook a bus. Dashcam footage from inside the SUV captures the 17-year-old driver – allegedly without a license – swerving wildly, narrowly missing the bus before the fatal impact. Eyewitness videos show Sahil's bike splintering into three pieces, his body hurled 50 feet into the air. The vehicle, registered to a prominent family, had racked up 13 traffic challans in the past year, nine for speeding, underscoring chronic recklessness.

Inna Maakan, Sahil's devastated mother, received the shattering call at 1:19 pm from Dwarka Sector-11 SHO, who described finding a bike in her name with a "slim, fair" deceased rider. Rushing to Lal Bahadur Shastri College road, she found her son lifeless amid wreckage, his jacket shredded. An ambulance lingered idly for 10 minutes despite being present; Maakan's screams finally prompted handlers to load him roughly by limbs, sans neck support, to Indira Gandhi Hospital. There, after her desperate shouts for aid, an ECG confirmed he had no pulse.

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The autopsy at AIIMS painted a grim picture of catastrophic trauma: death from severe haemorrhage due to left-sided skull fracture, scalp blood clot, brain swelling, and lung lacerations – injuries aligning perfectly with a high-speed ejection. Sahil, pursuing advanced certifications in finance and tech to fuel his millionaire ambitions, left behind a family mourning a bright future cut short. Friends recalled his part-time coding gigs and startup pitches, dreaming of aviation entrepreneurship beyond first-class seats.

The juvenile driver, son of an influential businessman, secured interim bail citing Class 10 board exams, sparking outrage over juvenile justice leniency. Delhi Police invoked Juvenile Justice Act provisions, but Maakan demands adult trial, citing the SUV's blatant violations and the driver's bravado in viral clips. Community vigils honor Sahil with his mottos projected on screens, while activists decry Delhi's rising road fatalities – over 1,300 in 2025 alone.

Sahil's story ignites calls for stricter licensing, SUV speed governors, and accountability for repeat offenders. As Inna sifts through her son's frozen room, clutching his medals, she vows to fight for justice. "He was my plane's pilot," she whispers, echoing his poster. The crash not only stole a dreamer but exposes flaws in India's road safety net.

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