'Air India Pilot Cutoff Fuel, Another Panicked': US Media Report Accesses Last Cockpit Exchange

The Federation of Indian Pilots criticised the preliminary report, citing lack of pilot involvement and premature blame assignment.

A Wall Street Journal report revealed the final conversation of Air India flight AI171 pilots before the Ahmedabad crash that killed 260.

Source : PTI

Air India Crash Report: A new report has revealed the last conversation between the pilots on the ill-fated Air India flight AI171 that crashed last month in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people. 

According to the Wall Street Journal report, the first officer flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner asked the more-experienced Captain why he flipped the fuel switch to the "cutoff" position, seconds after takeoff. The first officer then expressed panic while the Captain remained calm, the report added. 

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder were the two pilots who were flying the London-Gatwick-bound Air India flight from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. 

Both crew members were among the 241 persons onboard killed in the crash, while the remaining 19 were on the ground. Only one passenger, a British national, survived the crash. 

The WSJ report, citing sources familiar with the investigation, references a preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which indicates that both fuel cutoff switches were moved within a one-second window, mere moments after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner lifted off the runway.

The US Journal, however, did not say if there was any evidence that Sabharwal did move the switches, beyond the verbal exchange it cited. 

Pilots’ Body Slams Probe Report 

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) on Wednesday voiced strong objections to the preliminary findings of the Air India crash probe, criticising the report for excluding pilot representatives from the investigation and cautioning against assigning blame without a comprehensive inquiry.

In a sharp statement, the pilots’ union said: “Assigning blame before a thorough, transparent, and data-driven investigation is both premature and irresponsible. Such speculative commentary undermines the professionalism of highly trained crew members and causes undue distress to their families and colleagues.”

The FIP has demanded a more inclusive and detailed investigation process, urging authorities to prioritise facts over speculation. The body also highlighted the emotional toll such narratives can have on the aviation community and the families of the deceased crew.