Air India AI171 Crash Investigation: Did a Fatal Pilot Error or Hidden Tech Glitch Doom 260 Lives?

On July 17, disturbing updates emerged in the ongoing investigation into the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash, which occurred on June 12, in Ahmedabad, India. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming 260 lives, including 241 passengers and crew on board and 19 people on the ground.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India, along with international investigators, is probing the incident, with new details focusing on cockpit actions, technical factors, and concerns over premature conclusions. Below is a consolidated report of today's developments, optimised for SEO with relevant keywords and structured for clarity.

Key investigation findings

Cockpit voice recording highlights pilot's confusion

A cockpit voice recording (CVR) from the doomed flight has become a focal point of the investigation. According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report citing U.S. officials’ early assessment, the recording suggests the captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, may have moved the fuel control switches to the "cutoff" position seconds after takeoff, starving the plane’s engines of fuel. The first officer, Clive Kunder, reportedly questioned this action, asking, “Why did you cut off?” to which the captain responded, “I did not do so.”

The AAIB’s preliminary report, released on July 12, 2025, confirmed that the fuel switches transitioned from "run" to "cutoff" within a second of each other, leading to an immediate loss of engine power. However, the report did not specify whether this was due to human error or a technical malfunction.

Technical malfunction under scrutiny

Investigators are exploring whether an “un-commanded transition” of the fuel control switches could have been triggered by electrical or software issues in the Boeing 787’s systems, such as the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) or Thrust Control Malfunction Accommodation (TCMA). A technical snag reported on December 12, 2024, with the same aircraft, which led to aborted boarding, has raised questions about its maintenance history.

The Indian Express reported that the AAIB is examining potential faults in the aircraft’s electrical and software components that could have caused the switches to move without pilot intervention. Air India, however, announced on July 16, that precautionary inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanisms across its Boeing 787-8 fleet found no faults.

Controversies and concerns

Pilots’ associations demand fair probe

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) and ALPA-India have strongly criticised the WSJ report and the investigation’s direction, labelling attempts to blame the pilots as “premature and irresponsible.” FIP President CS Randhawa insisted that the AAIB’s preliminary report did not conclusively attribute the crash to pilot error and urged a transparent, data-driven investigation.

ALPA-India highlighted the pilots’ efforts to protect passengers and called for respect rather than “unfounded character judgments.” The pilots’ bodies also expressed dissatisfaction with the exclusion of pilot representatives from the investigation process, drawing parallels to a 2019 All Nippon Airways (ANA) incident involving similar fuel switch issues.

Leak of investigation details sparks outrage

Aviation expert Sanjay Lazar raised concerns over the WSJ’s access to detailed cockpit voice recorder transcripts, which were not fully disclosed in the AAIB’s preliminary report. Lazar questioned why a foreign media outlet appeared to have more information than Indian authorities or the public, calling it “worrying.” This leak has fueled demands for a judicial inquiry to ensure transparency and accountability in the investigation.

Official responses and actions

The AAIB, led by Director Sanjay Kumar Singh and supported by a five-member team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is conducting a thorough probe. The investigation has ruled out mechanical or maintenance faults in the aircraft, as confirmed by Air India CEO Campbell Wilson in an internal memo on July 14, 2025. However, the possibility of automation errors or uncommanded actions remains under review. The Indian government, represented by MoS Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, has stressed the importance of sticking to the facts and awaiting the AAIB’s final report.

Broader implications

The crash, India’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades, has reignited debates over cockpit safety procedures, aircraft system design, and crisis management protocols. The tragedy prompted Ahmedabad Airport to briefly suspend operations and order safety checks on other Boeing 787 aircraft. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is also investigating Air India Express for unrelated compliance issues, adding scrutiny to the airline’s operations. Some U.S. officials have suggested that criminal authorities, such as the FBI, should review the matter if the crash is deemed a potential crime rather than a safety mishap.

Public and expert sentiment

Posts on X reflect ongoing discussions about the investigation, with users urging caution against premature conclusions. Captain Sharath Panicker and former DGCA Flight Operations Inspector Prashant Dhalla underscored the need to rely on the AAIB’s findings rather than speculative media reports. Aviation experts have called for a judicial probe to address the complexity of the incident, citing theories ranging from an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) battery fire to potential faults in critical systems. The debate over installing cockpit video cameras to complement voice and flight data recorders has also resurfaced.

The Air India Flight AI171 crash investigation remains ongoing, with today’s developments highlighting a complex interplay of human actions, potential technical malfunctions, and procedural concerns. While cockpit recordings point to a critical exchange between the pilots, the AAIB has not yet determined whether the fuel cutoff was due to pilot error or an uncommanded system failure. As the aviation industry and public await a comprehensive report, calls for transparency and fairness underscore the need for a thorough, unbiased investigation into one of India’s worst aviation tragedies.