New Air India Crash Details As US Media Accesses Pilots’ Last Conversation
Ongoing investigations into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 on June 12, 2025 are centering on cockpit communications. According to U.S. media reporting and audio from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), a chilling exchange between the pilots may offer critical clues to what transpired.
Cockpit Confusion in Final Seconds
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Immediately after liftoff from Ahmedabad airport, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s two engine fuel cutoff switches were reportedly flipped from RUN to CUTOFF, causing a complete engine flameout.
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The CVR captured the first officer urgently asking:
“Why did you cut off?”
The response:
“I didn’t do it.”
Those final words were among the last before the aircraft crashed 32 seconds after takeoff.
Key Flight Crew Details
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Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, a highly experienced pilot with over 15,600 flight hours, was the command pilot.
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First Officer Clive Kunder, 32, had around 3,400 flight hours and was handling takeoff.
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Both flight data and cockpit audio recorders were recovered and are still being analyzed.
Technical Findings & Mystery Deepens
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The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) confirms no mechanical faults, fuel contamination, or other abnormalities in the aircraft’s systems.
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The unexpected, near‑simultaneous activation of both fuel cutoff switches suggests an intentional or unexplained manual intervention.
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Aviation analysts note that the design and locking mechanism of these switches make accidental toggling extremely unlikely.
Official Responses & Pilots’ Forum Reaction
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Air India’s CEO emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing, cautioning against premature conclusions and reiterating full cooperation with investigators.
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Indian pilot unions have labeled U.S. media portrayals “baseless,” asserting that preliminary findings do not conclusively attribute blame to the flight crew.
Safety Takeaways & Industry Implications
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The crash reinvigorates debates over cockpit video recorders, which could provide clearer context in future investigations.
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India’s aviation regulator has mandated special inspections of fuel cutoff mechanisms on all Boeing 787 Dreamliners, potentially preventing a repeat of such unexplained switch movement.
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What We Don’t Know Yet
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Who exactly moved the switches—Captain Sabharwal, First Officer Kunder, or someone else?
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Was the switch activation a deliberate act or accidental, possibly stemming from disorientation during a stressful takeoff?
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Personal and psychological factors are under review, but no definitive conclusions have been drawn.
Until the full AAIB accident report is released (likely within 12 months), many questions remain open. The cockpit audio offers a sobering glimpse into a critical breakdown of systems and procedures—and a tragic reminder of how split-second moments can determine the fate of an aircraft.
Watch this space for further updates as investigators comb through the data.
