Fuel Cutoff Mystery Deepens In Air India Crash, Focus Shifts To Cockpit Actions
Investigators probing the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 have shifted their focus squarely onto the cockpit, as fresh revelations suggest that it was the Captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, himself who turned off the plane’s fuel switches moments after takeoff.
This critical development comes from cockpit voice recordings recovered from the aircraft’s black box, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing early assessments by U.S. officials familiar with the investigation on Thursday.
The devastating crash on June 12, involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, resulted in the deaths of over 260 people, including 241 out of 242 people on board and several civilians on the ground.
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The aircraft plummeted into a medical college building in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar area less than a minute after takeoff, erupting into flames. The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, seated in 11A next to an emergency exit, miraculously escaped through the shattered door, albeit with injuries.
According to both the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India and international reports, the aircraft’s fuel switches were moved to the “cutoff” position within seconds of becoming airborne, which led to immediate engine shutdown and eventual loss of control.
The AAIB’s preliminary Report, released on July 12, described a moment of confusion and alarm inside the cockpit, but did not assign responsibility for the action to either pilot.
However, the Wall Street Journal now reports that sources close to the U.S. leg of the investigation believe it was the captain who turned off the fuel supply, a move that is both highly irregular and dangerous under any circumstances.
Cockpit voice recordings reveal a chilling exchange: the first officer, who was flying the aircraft at the time, asked the more experienced captain why the switches had been moved.
The captain reportedly responded with a calm demeanour, while the first officer reacted with shock and confusion. The AAIB report had previously stated that one pilot asked the other about the cutoff, and the other denied taking the action, adding to the mystery.
While the report stops short of confirming whether the captain’s action was deliberate or accidental, it has raised grave concerns within aviation safety circles. The AAIB has not yet provided conclusive evidence of intent, but the investigation is ongoing, and a full report is expected later this year.
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In the aftermath of the AAIB’s findings, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered immediate inspections of fuel control switch locking mechanisms on all Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft operating in India. Airlines were asked to submit reports by July 21.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Air India confirmed that all precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 fleet had been completed, and no mechanical faults were found. The airline added that throttle control modules had already been replaced as part of Boeing’s scheduled maintenance updates.
The crash has also reignited calls for mandatory cockpit video recorders, which are currently not required in most commercial aircraft. Aviation watchdogs and safety experts say such technology could provide irrefutable evidence in incidents where cockpit voice data alone may not capture critical actions or intentions.
