Pilots’ Association Raises Objections Following New US Report on Captain’s ‘Role’ in Air India Crash

A pilots' association has raised concerns over the preliminary findings of the Air India crash investigation, criticizing the report for seemingly blaming the pilots. Their statement came as a new US media report, citing cockpit recordings, suggested that the captain had switched off the fuel flow to the engines.

According to The Wall Street Journal, which referenced US officials, the black box data shows the captain turning the fuel control switches from "run" to "cutoff." The flight, AI 171, was piloted by 56-year-old Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 15,638 hours of flying experience, and 32-year-old First Officer Clive Kunder, who had 3,403 hours.

Just seconds after takeoff, the first officer reportedly asked the captain why he moved the switches to "cutoff." While the first officer appeared panicked, the captain stayed calm, the report said.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was headed to London when it crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel building in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff. The tragic accident claimed the lives of 260 people—241 passengers and crew onboard and 19 on the ground.

Pilots’ Associations Respond

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) expressed dissatisfaction over being excluded from the investigation and cautioned against prematurely blaming the pilots without a thorough and transparent probe. They called such conclusions “irresponsible.”

Similarly, the Air Line Pilots' Association - India (ALPA India) urged respect for the crew, emphasizing that they did everything possible to protect passengers and minimize damage until the very end.

What the Crash Report Says

The initial report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the fuel control switches were flipped from "run" to "cutoff" within seconds after takeoff. These switches control the fuel supply to the engines. However, the report does not specify whether the pilots themselves moved the switches.

It also mentions a conversation where one pilot asks why the fuel supply was cut off, with the other denying doing so. The full transcript has not been released, fueling speculation online.

Experts say accidental movement of these switches is unlikely. Air India inspected the locking mechanisms on all its Boeing 787s and found no problems.

An Indian Express report added that investigators are exploring whether electrical or software glitches might have caused the switches to move to "cutoff" without pilot input.

The government has emphasized that this is only a preliminary report and urged the public and media to avoid jumping to conclusions. The final report is expected to take up to a year.