Air TransportCockpit Audio Suggests Pilot Shut Off Fuel Before Air India Crash, Says WSJ
The cockpit voice recording from Air India flight AI171, which crashed on June 12 in Ahmedabad, India, suggests that one of the pilots may have manually shut off fuel to the engines just seconds after takeoff, said Wall Street Journal citing sources familiar with early assessments from both U.S. and Indian investigators.
According to the preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the engine fuel control switches moved from the “run” to “cutoff” position one second apart, immediately after takeoff.
The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other why the fuel was shut off, with the response being a denial. The report does not clarify which statement was made by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal or by First Officer Clive Kunder, the latter of whom was flying the aircraft.
Investigators believe that Kunder, who was at the controls during takeoff, likely had both hands on the yoke managing the heavy-lift maneuver, making it unlikely he could have manually moved the switches at that moment.
The report indicates that shortly after liftoff, the aircraft’s ram air turbine deployed, signaling a loss of engine power. The Dreamliner climbed to 650 feet before losing thrust and beginning to descend.
Although both fuel switches were eventually returned to the “run” position and the aircraft attempted to restart the engines, it was too low and too slow to recover. The aircraft struck trees and a chimney before crashing into a medical college building, killing 241 of the 242 people on board, as well as 19 on the ground.
AAIB called for moderation and respect for the investigative process
Air India has stated internally that the aircraft was in full compliance with maintenance requirements and that no mechanical faults were found.
The AAIB’s preliminary report does not include any safety recommendations for Boeing or General Electric, the engine manufacturer. Following the report’s release, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing issued internal notices reaffirming the integrity of the fuel switch locking system.
The crash has renewed discussions about installing cockpit image recorders on commercial aircraft, a move many believe would offer crucial insight during accident investigations. Experts agree that having a visual record of cockpit activity could help clarify critical decisions and actions during emergency scenarios.
In response to mounting speculation and selective reporting in parts of the international press, India’s AAIB issued a public appeal calling for restraint and respect for the investigative process. The agency emphasized that the investigation is still underway and that the preliminary report is not meant to assign blame or establish causes. Instead, it serves to inform what happened.
The AAIB urged the public and media not to promote premature narratives that could undermine trust in aviation safety and reminded stakeholders that the final report will present a full analysis along with any recommendations to prevent similar incidents.
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