260 Souls. One Fatal Switch: The Tragic Final Moments of Air India Flight 171

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad, India, crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff, claiming 260 lives—241 passengers and crew onboard and 19 on the ground. The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, escaped through a fuselage breach, a miraculous anomaly in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters. A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), bolstered by a leaked cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript, confirms a chilling fact: the aircraft’s fuel-control switches were manually moved to the “cutoff” position mid-climb, starving both General Electric GEnx-1B70 engines of fuel. The CVR captures a split-second argument—“Why did you cut off?” followed by “I didn’t do it”—that has deepened the mystery and sparked debate over human error, mechanical failure, or deliberate action. This article explores the confirmed details, the haunting cockpit exchange, and the systemic failures that allowed this tragedy to unfold.

The Crash: A Catastrophic 32 Seconds

Flight 171 lifted off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:38:39 IST, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, with 15,638 flight hours (8,600 on the 787), was the pilot-in-command, while First Officer Clive Kunder, 32, with 3,403 hours (1,100 on the 787), was the pilot flying. The aircraft reached 180 knots and a peak altitude of 650 feet when, three seconds after takeoff, both fuel-control switches moved to “cutoff” one second apart, causing immediate engine shutdown. CCTV footage showed the ram air turbine (RAT), an emergency power source, deploying instantly, signaling a total loss of engine power. Despite the switches being returned to “run” 10 and 14 seconds later, only one engine began to relight, too late to prevent the crash into a medical college hostel 1.7 kilometers from the runway. A “Mayday” call at 13:39:05 IST went unanswered, and the aircraft impacted at 13:39:11, erupting into a 1,500°C fireball.

The AAIB report, released July 8, 2025, confirms the switches were manually moved, as their stop-lock mechanisms require deliberate action—pulling up and shifting past metal guards—to change position. No bird strikes or mechanical faults were noted, and maintenance records showed compliance with all airworthiness directives. The confirmation of manual action, coupled with the CVR’s brief but explosive argument, has shifted focus to the cockpit dynamics and broader systemic issues.

The Cockpit Argument: A Split-Second Mystery

The leaked CVR transcript, partially reported by The Wall Street Journal and Corriere della Sera, captures a fleeting but critical exchange. At 13:38:42 IST, as the aircraft reached maximum speed, Sabharwal reportedly said, “It’s your turn,” followed by two clicks—identified as the fuel switches moving to “cutoff.” Kunder, audibly panicked, asked, “Why did you cut off?” to which Sabharwal replied, “I didn’t do it.” The transcript notes Kunder’s rising distress as he attempted to diagnose the loss of thrust, while Sabharwal remained calm. Ten seconds later, the switches were flipped back to “run,” triggering an automatic relight, but the aircraft’s descent was unstoppable.

U.S. sources, cited by The Wall Street Journal, suggest Sabharwal, as the monitoring pilot, likely moved the switches, as Kunder’s hands were occupied with flying. The phrase “It’s your turn” is ambiguous—possibly a routine handoff or a miscommunication. However, the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) and Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) have called these claims speculative, noting the lack of voice identification and the pilots’ impeccable records. A Canada-based investigator suggested Kunder may have moved the switches unwittingly, later denying it in shock, while others, like aviation expert Mary Schiavo, argue a software glitch in the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) could mimic a manual cutoff, as seen in a 2019 All Nippon Airways 787 incident.

Systemic Failures: A Deeper Blame

The manual fuel cutoff, while central, points to systemic vulnerabilities:

Switch Design and Software Risks: The 787’s fuel-control switches are designed to prevent accidental activation, with metal guards and a spring-loaded lock. A 2018 FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) noted disengaged locking mechanisms on Boeing 737 switches, though Air India’s post-crash inspections found no such issues in its 787 fleet. Capt. Kishore Chinta, a former AAIB investigator, posits a FADEC glitch could have misread sensor data, triggering a shutdown recorded as a switch movement. The flight data recorder (FDR) shows no alerts prior to the cutoff, deepening the mystery.

Cockpit Resource Management (CRM): The CVR suggests a CRM breakdown, with no standard callouts or verification before the switches moved. The pilots’ training records, under review, show both were cleared for duty, but the 32-second timeline left no margin for error. Enhanced CRM training for rapid-response scenarios could mitigate such failures.

Investigative Transparency: The AAIB’s selective release of CVR excerpts, without voice identification, has fueled speculation and distrust. Families, like Sameer Rafik, whose cousin died, demand the full transcript, citing distrust in partial disclosures. The NTSB’s Jennifer Homendy has criticized the leak, urging a full report expected by June 2026.

Aviation Safety Culture: Air India’s recent safety scrutiny, including falsified maintenance records at Air India Express, raises questions about oversight. The 787’s first fatal crash has also spotlighted Boeing’s safety record, prompting calls for cockpit video recorders to clarify pilot actions, though unions like ALPA India oppose them over privacy concerns.

The Human Toll and Public Outcry

The crash killed notable figures, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and 19 medical students on the ground. Only 35 bodies were identified by June 15 due to the fire’s intensity. Survivor Ramesh, seated in 11A, described the plane “stuck in the air” before the crash, crediting his escape to an emergency exit. Families and the public, amplified by X posts like @ShivAroor’s, express anger over the investigation’s opacity, with some, like @sjlazars, questioning media narratives blaming Sabharwal. The FIP’s Charanvir Singh Randhawa demands patience until the final report, rejecting premature conclusions.

Conclusion: A Tragedy of Trust and Truth

The confirmed manual cutoff of Air India Flight 171’s fuel switches, paired with the CVR’s split-second argument, paints a tragedy of human and systemic failure. Whether caused by error, confusion, or an improbable software glitch, the loss of 260 lives demands answers beyond the cockpit. The aviation industry must address switch design, CRM training, and investigative transparency to restore trust. As the AAIB’s final report looms, the haunting question remains: was this a fatal mistake or a deeper betrayal of safety? Only a rigorous, open investigation can honor the 260 souls lost when everything went dark.