Air India Crash: Ongoing Investigation Raises New Questions

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 took off from Ahmedabad, bound for London. Just 32 seconds later, it crashed into a nearby building, killing 260 people. Among them were passengers, crew members, and people on the ground. Only one person survived.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was one of the safest planes in service. GE, a trusted manufacturer, built its engines. The weather was clear, and the pilots were sober, rested, and fully certified. So, what went wrong?

A recent preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) offered a chilling detail. Just after takeoff, both engine fuel switches were flipped to the “off” position. That shut down the engines and left the aircraft powerless.

But the biggest question remains: why? Now, experts, families, and airline crews are asking for more. They want clear answers. And what’s been uncovered so far only raises more questions.

Fuel Switch Mystery: What Happened in the Cockpit?

The flight data shows something rare and shocking. Just seconds after leaving the ground, both fuel switches turned off. This action is usually done after landing, not during takeoff. A voice recording from the cockpit adds to the confusion. One pilot asked the other, “Why did you turn them off?” The other replied, “I didn’t.” The switches were then turned back on.

These switches are hard to move by mistake. They are designed to stay locked. To flip them, a pilot has to lift a latch and then push. Doing that with both hands in one second is nearly impossible. So, the world is now watching. But the questions are growing louder.

Pilot Records Are Clean, but Concerns Remain

Both pilots were experienced and passed all checks. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had over 15,000 flight hours. Co-pilot Clive Kunder had more than 3,400 hours. They were well-rested and had no health or alcohol issues.

According to the airline, all safety checks were done. Nothing pointed to pilot fatigue or mental stress. Yet, some aviation commentators have hinted at pilot error—or worse, pilot intent.

These comments have upset many in the pilot community. Another group, ALPA India, called for a fair investigation. They criticized early judgments and warned against blaming the crew without proof.

Right now, the investigation shows no clear fault by either pilot. But the mystery deepens: if they didn’t shut the engines off, then who—or what—did?

Mechanical Failure or Design Flaw?

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has a strong safety record. Maintenance logs showed no faults before the flight. Fuel samples were clean. So far, investigators have not found any technical reason for the crash. However, some are questioning the design of the fuel switch system itself.

In 2018, the FAA issued a bulletin. It warned airlines to check the fuel switch locking features on Boeing models, including the 787. But the notice wasn’t mandatory. So, Air India didn’t carry out that inspection.

Could a faulty switch be to blame? Boeing and the FAA say no. In July 2025, both said there’s no safety risk and no need for action. Some experts worry that under rare conditions, the switches could move on their own.

Was There Time to Save the Plane?

Time was against the crew. After both engines shut down, they quickly tried to restart them. The left engine began to regain thrust. The right engine had restarted but didn’t recover in time. The aircraft had climbed to only 625 feet before it began to fall.

According to experts, restarting takes time. And in this case, there wasn’t enough of it. The plane hit a building less than a minute after takeoff.

One pilot noted, “When both engines fail, your mind goes numb. You’re not thinking about gear or lights. You’re thinking about where to land—fast.”

The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) had deployed. That only happens during a full loss of power. It helps keep basic systems running. But it can’t save a plane already losing altitude.

Why the Delay in Full Voice Transcript?

Right now, only a small part of the cockpit voice recording has been made public. We know one pilot questioned the shutdown. But we don’t know who said what. Investigators still haven’t identified which voice belongs to which pilot. They also haven’t released the full transcript. Families and experts are calling for more transparency.

Without a full transcript, it’s hard to understand what happened in the final moments. Was there confusion? Did one pilot try to stop the other? Did they follow protocol?

Many experts say this case shows why cockpit video recorders are needed. A simple camera over the pilots’ shoulders could answer many of these questions. The U.S. NTSB has asked for this in the past, but it’s still not standard. Until we see more of the voice data, these answers will remain hidden.

What the Pilot Unions Are Demanding

Pilot groups in India are not staying silent. They have raised serious concerns about how the investigation is being handled. ALPA India said the probe lacked “qualified personnel” and too much secrecy. They want observers to have full access to the data and to be involved in the investigation.

The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association warned against speculation. They said the public and media should stop blaming the pilots without facts. Two U.S. safety experts backed these concerns. They said the early report seemed fair, but agreed that pilot input should not be ruled out or assumed. The pilot community is asking for fairness, facts, and full transparency.

Global Safety Watchdogs Respond

The crash has drawn attention from global regulators. In early July, the FAA issued a notice saying Boeing’s fuel switches are still safe. No new rules have been made.

However, India’s own aviation body, DGCA, ordered inspections of all 787 and 737 models in the country. Other airlines also checked their aircraft. So far, no defects have been found.

Meanwhile, Air India is under separate investigation in the EU. One of its budget airlines allegedly falsified engine maintenance records on a different plane.

All this adds pressure on Air India’s leadership. CEO Campbell Wilson said the airline is fully cooperating and performing all checks. He warned against rushing to judgment.

“Let us not be diverted from our top priorities: standing by the bereaved and working together.”

The world is watching. And regulators must balance trust, truth, and safety.

What Happens Next in the Investigation?

The final report will take months and may involve teams from India, the U.S., and the U.K. It will include voice matching, technical forensics, and human factor studies.

Here’s what experts say must be in the final report:

The families deserve the truth. The pilots deserve a fair review. The industry needs clear guidance. And the public needs confidence in flying again.

Waiting for the Full Truth

This crash wasn’t just a tragic event. Everyone did what they were supposed to—yet something went terribly wrong. The answers won’t come from theories or guesses. They must come from facts.

Until then, we must be patient. We must also be respectful to the victims, to their families, and to those trying to find the truth. Because when an aircraft falls from the sky, it shakes more than the Earth. It shakes trust. And only facts can rebuild it.