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Mystery Deepens In Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Was It Deliberate?

The flight data shows both switches were turned off within a one-second window, prompting concern that this was not a systems failure, but potentially a human decision.

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Mystery Deepens In Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Was It Deliberate?

Mystery Deepens In Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Was It Deliberate?

The catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 continues to raise troubling questions, as a preliminary investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) suggests possible manual sabotage during the aircraft’s takeoff from Ahmedabad last month.

Aviation experts are now calling for deeper scrutiny into the cockpit actions that led to one of India’s deadliest air disasters in recent memory.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en route to London Gatwick on June 12, plunged into a residential neighbourhood just 32 seconds after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

According to the AAIB’s preliminary Report released on July 11, both engine fuel switches were manually turned to the “cutoff” position shortly after takeoff. The switches, guarded by design to avoid accidental use, require deliberate, physical action to disengage.

Aviation safety expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan, speaking to NDTV, noted: “It cannot be done automatically or by fault. You have to lift, pull, and move those switches to shut off the fuel. That’s not something that just happens.”

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript adds to the mystery. As per AAIB’s summary, one pilot is heard asking, “Why did you cut off?”, followed by the other replying, “I didn’t do it.” This exchange occurred within moments of the engines losing thrust.

The flight data shows both switches were turned off within a one-second window, prompting concern that this was not a systems failure, but potentially a human decision. While the evidence has led some experts to suggest sabotage or even suicide, others caution against jumping to conclusions.

Also, read| Fuel Cutoff Mystery In Air India Crash: AAIB Report Raises New Questions

Captain Ehsan Khalid, a former Indian Air Force pilot, said in a televised panel: “No professional pilot would shut down both engines during takeoff unless under extreme duress or confusion. But without cockpit video, we’re left guessing.”

International aviation analyst John Cox pointed to the possibility of electrical or software-related malfunctions affecting engine control, and emphasised that the final report must look into every potential failure point, including those beyond the pilots’ actions.

Meanwhile, India’s Airline Pilots’ Association (ALPA-I) has expressed strong objection to the leak of the preliminary report and its interpretation by the media. Captain Sam Thomas, President of ALPA-I, released a scathing statement: “How did an unsigned preliminary report appear in global media before being presented to stakeholders? This sets a dangerous precedent of blaming the crew before the facts are fully established.”

The union also raised questions over a 2018 FAA advisory about potential faults in the fuel control switch gates. ALPA-I claims Air India failed to act on the advisory, which was marked “non-mandatory.” They argue that mechanical vulnerabilities must be explored as seriously as human ones.

Also, read| 38 Hours After AI171 Crash, Air India’s AI187 Drops 900 Feet Mid-Air

Captain Ranganathan also voiced concern over alleged gaps in pilot psychological screening in India. He told The Hindu: “We treat pilots like machines, ignoring fatigue, stress, and personal trauma. In many countries, mental health checks are rigorous. We’re still playing catch-up.”

Unnamed Air India insiders reportedly informed him that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was flying AI-171, had recently returned from an extended medical leave. However, the AAIB report confirmed that both he and First Officer Clive Kundar had passed all required medical and flight-readiness checks.

The suggestion of psychological instability is highly sensitive and has not been confirmed by official sources. But it remains one of several angles being examined.

Not all experts believe the incident points toward deliberate action. Mark D. Martin, an aviation risk analyst, told BBC South Asia: “It’s premature to label this crash as pilot-driven. The Boeing 787’s fuel system is electronically managed. A systems bug, electrical surge, or a misfire in the fly-by-wire system cannot be ruled out.”

Air India’s Chairman N. Chandrasekaran confirmed that the aircraft had a “clean technical record” but declined to comment further pending the final report.

Pattern or Coincidence? Past Crashes Resurface

The disturbing possibility of pilot-induced crashes has precedence in global aviation history, including:

  • Germanwings Flight 9525 (2015) – The co-pilot deliberately crashed the aircraft into the French Alps.

  • EgyptAir Flight 990 (1999) – Suspected intentional dive by the relief first officer.

  • Malaysia Airlines MH370 (2014) – Still unresolved, with pilot involvement considered plausible.

Captain Ranganathan, who investigated the SilkAir 185 case, noted: “Initially, they denied pilot suicide there too. But the NTSB later confirmed it. We must learn from history, not ignore it.”

A common refrain from experts and the public is the lack of cockpit video recording, a feature long recommended by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) but still not implemented in most commercial aircraft.

Social media platforms like X have erupted with demands for reforms in pilot mental health screening, cockpit surveillance, and aircraft engineering audits.

Some users allege an airline cover-up; others defend the professionalism of India’s pilots. The topic has split public opinion, with trending hashtags like #AI171Truth, #PilotOrSystem, and #FlightSabotageDebate.


In a press briefing, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu urged caution: “We understand the public anxiety. But let us not assign blame until all facts are on the table. We trust our investigative agencies and our flight crew. The truth will emerge.”

The AAIB’s final report is expected within 12 to 24 months, but the debate around AI-171 is unlikely to fade soon. The AAIB has not concluded any intentional wrongdoing. All references to sabotage or psychological factors are based on expert commentary and are under investigation.

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