Air India Flight 171 crashed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad on 12 June last year, just 32 seconds after takeoff, killing 249 people and sparking significant controversy over the cause. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 230 passengers and 10 crew members, appeared to hang in the air before descending and colliding with the ground in a massive explosion. The investigation into the crash has become contentious, with competing theories about whether pilot action, mechanical failure, or some combination of factors led to the disaster.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released a preliminary report that noted the aircraft’s fuel cutoff switches moved from run to cutoff position seconds after takeoff, causing rapid engine thrust loss. The report included a brief reference to cockpit voice recordings in which one pilot asked the other why the fuel was cut off, with the second pilot denying responsibility. This limited disclosure sparked intense media speculation and reports suggesting the captain may have deliberately disabled the engines, drawing criticism from safety advocates and pilots’ organizations. The AAIB subsequently condemned “selective and unverified reporting” in international press coverage as irresponsible.
Alternative theories have emerged challenging the pilot suicide narrative. Safety campaigners and investigators point to allegations of prior electrical problems on the aircraft, including a 2022 incident involving burning in a main power panel. Some technical experts propose that a major electrical failure could have caused the aircraft’s computers to reboot seconds after takeoff, triggering a safety system that automatically cut fuel supply without pilot intervention. Lawyers representing victims’ families have highlighted apparent inconsistencies in the preliminary report, including questions about the deployment timing of the Ram Air Turbine emergency power system.
The investigation has raised broader concerns about how major air accidents are investigated internationally. Under current conventions, the country where an accident occurs oversees the official investigation, a system critics argue is vulnerable to political pressure and corporate influence. The Foundation for Aviation Safety has warned that this approach can trap investigations within local bureaucracies, while manufacturers’ representatives may face pressure to deflect corporate responsibility. International Civil Aviation Organization recently introduced guidance on enhancing investigation credibility through greater transparency, with changes taking effect in late 2028. However, experts suggest more fundamental reforms may be needed to establish truly independent global investigation authorities capable of providing definitive answers in complex aviation disasters.
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