Investigation Into Air India Ahmedabad Crash Examines Claims of Manual Engine Shutdown

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A major breakthrough has emerged in the investigation of the Air India Flight 171 disaster that killed 260 people in June 2025. According to new claims from the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, investigators are preparing a final report suggesting the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed as a pilot intentionally shut off the fuel switches shortly after takeoff.

This development shifts the focus from mechanical failure to a deliberate act, as experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reportedly identified the specific movements of the fuel control switches in cleaned-up cockpit audio.

The Silent Engines: What the Data Reveals

The events of the 12 June 2025 tragedy lasted only 32 seconds. Flight 171 was heading from Ahmedabad toward London, but surprisingly, both engines lost power at almost the same time. Early theories blamed technical glitches for this failure. Now, analysis of the ‘black box’ in Washington points to human action as the findings reveal that fuel switches were moved from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF.’ This action requires force and cannot happen by mistake.

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As reported by The Guardian, the preliminary findings captured a haunting exchange in the cockpit: “In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other: ‘Why did he cut off?’ The other pilot responded that he did not do so.”

Evidence suggests Captain Sumeet Sabharwal moved the switches. He was the pilot monitoring the flight. First Officer (FO) Clive Kunder was actively flying the plane, trying to gain altitude, but the captain’s controls did not move.

How the June 2025 Crash Is Reshaping India's Aviation Economy

The June 2025 crash is a massive financial disaster. Air India is now in its worst crisis ever as it loses $1.6 billion (Rs. 15,000 crore) in 2026. This is not just about insurance costs; the crash has hurt the entire Tata Group.

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Geopolitical conflicts have made things worse. According to Mint: "Air India is expected to report at least $1.6 billion net loss... after the deadly Ahmedabad crash amid the company’s turnaround plan... profitability is now out of reach."

Passengers will likely see higher ticket prices, and there will be fewer flights to Europe and the US. The Supreme Court of India has given a three-week deadline for the final report, which will decide if the Boeing 787 fleet needs changes. It will also show if the industry needs better mental health checks for pilots.