Did AI 171 pilot ‘intentionally’ cut fuel? Report raises fresh questions on Air India crash

On June 12 last year, Air India flight 171, flying from Ahmedabad to London, crashed soon after take-off, killing over 200 people on board, including 12 crew members.

• Investigators suspect intentional act in Air India crash, not technical failure
• Final probe report pending; cockpit voice recordings analyzed for clues
• Recommendations may include pilot mental health monitoring and evaluations

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Authorities investigating the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad are examining the possibility that the incident may not have stemmed from a technical malfunction but from an alleged “intentional act”, according to a report by Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

The report cited two sources said to be familiar with discussions between Indian and US officials.

The report, however, has not been independently verified, and no official findings have been announced.

Aviation regulators have yet to release their final assessment, and any conclusions remain subject to the outcome of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) formal investigation.

The findings are based on what the report said was a lack of technical defects being found, and analysis of cleaned-up cockpit voice recordings that investigators said identified which pilot moved the switches.

On June 12 last year, Air India flight 171, flying from Ahmedabad to London, crashed soon after take-off, killing over 200 people on board, including 12 crew members.

Early findings had focused on mechanical performance, maintenance history and cockpit procedures, without assigning blame.

A preliminary report issued in July 2025 by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) referred to the final exchange in the cockpit concerning an alleged fuel control cutoff. According to the cockpit voice recording, one pilot is heard asking, “Why did you cut off the fuel?” The other responds, “I did not do so.”

Pushkaraj Sabharwal, father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal who died in the June 12 Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, has moved the Supreme Court seeking a judicial inquiry into the incident. He refuted suggestions that personal issues, including reports of a divorce, had led to anxiety or depression.

According to the Italian newspaper, investigators suspect one of the pilots may have switched off the engine fuel control switches, leading to a loss of power and the aircraft’s subsequent crash. Sabharwal was the pilot-in-command, while First Officer Clive Kunder was serving as co-pilot.

“Responsibilities remain unclear: the main suspect is Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who, as emerged a month after the crash, suffered from depression,” the Italian media report stated as quoted by India Today.

According to Corriere della Sera, the final probe report is also expected to include recommendations on continuous psychological evaluation and mental health monitoring of pilots.