Pilot Body Raises Concerns as US Report Points to Air India Captain in Ahmedabad Crash

A pilots’ association has expressed concerns after a fresh US report claimed the Air India captain may have cut off fuel to the engines moments before the fatal Ahmedabad crash, intensifying focus on pilot actions in the ongoing investigation.

The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that cockpit voice recordings indicated Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, moved the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s fuel control switches from “run” to “cutoff” seconds after takeoff. The first officer, Clive Kunder, 32, reportedly questioned the captain about the move before panicking, while the captain remained calm, the report added.

The Air India flight AI 171, bound for London, crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel building in Ahmedabad moments after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and 19 on the ground. The tragedy has triggered a high-level probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The AAIB’s initial report confirmed that the fuel control switches flipped from “run” to “cutoff” within a second of each other after lift-off, but it did not specify whether the switches were moved manually by either pilot. The report also recorded an exchange in the cockpit where one pilot questioned the other on why the fuel supply was cut off, with the response being a denial.

Experts have noted that the accidental movement of the fuel switches is highly unlikely due to their design, which requires deliberate action to operate. The switches regulate the fuel supply to the aircraft’s engines, and their movement to “cutoff” would effectively shut down engine power during flight.

On Wednesday, Air India stated that precautionary inspections across its Boeing 787 fleet found no issues with the fuel control switch locking mechanisms. The airline has also assured that it is fully cooperating with investigators to determine the cause of the crash.

The pilots’ body has cautioned against prematurely attributing blame solely to the crew, urging authorities to consider all factors, including technical or systemic issues, before drawing final conclusions.

The crash has sparked widespread concern, with aviation safety analysts calling for a thorough review of operational protocols and design safeguards to prevent similar incidents. The tragedy, one of the deadliest air disasters in recent Indian aviation history, has left families of victims demanding accountability as the investigation continues.