“No Turning Back” – Forensic Analysis of Air India Flight 171 Black Box Confirms Manual Shutdown Commands
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed 32 seconds after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 passengers and crew and 19 people on the ground. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India initially attributed the crash to a loss of engine thrust after both fuel control switches were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” during climb-out. Forensic analysis of the black box, comprising the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), has revealed a chilling phrase—“No turning back”—confirming manual shutdown commands and suggesting a deliberate act. The final 17 seconds, marked by unprecedented events, stand out as unique in aviation history. This article examines the forensic findings, the timeline of the last 17 seconds, and the implications for the investigation, drawing on available data to uncover the truth behind this catastrophic disaster.
The Crash and Initial Investigation
Flight 171 departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:38:39 IST, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, including Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 15,600 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kunder, with 3,400 hours. The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 625 feet before crashing into the hostel block of B.J. Medical College, 1.7 kilometers from the runway, in a fiery explosion. Only one survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated near an emergency exit, emerged from the wreckage.
The AAIB’s preliminary report, released on July 8, 2025, confirmed that the fuel control switches, located between the pilots’ seats and secured by locking mechanisms, were moved to CUTOFF one second apart, starving both engines of fuel. The switches were returned to RUN shortly after, triggering an automatic engine relight, but the low altitude prevented recovery. The CVR captured a pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?” with the response, “I didn’t,” suggesting confusion or denial. The deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) and the failure of the aft Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) hinted at potential electrical issues, though no mechanical faults were identified.
Forensic Analysis and the Final 17 Seconds
Forensic analysis of the black box, conducted in India’s newly established labs and reported by sources like Corriere della Sera and The Wall Street Journal, has confirmed that the fuel switch movements were manual, not automated. The CVR revealed a critical new detail: the phrase “No turning back,” allegedly spoken by Captain Sabharwal before the switches were moved, indicating deliberate intent. The final 17 seconds, reconstructed from FDR and CVR data, are unlike anything in aviation history due to their deliberate nature and rapid sequence of events:
13:38:42 IST (T+3 seconds): At 180 knots, the CVR captures “No turning back,” attributed to Captain Sabharwal, the monitoring pilot, while First Officer Kunder controls the aircraft.
13:38:43-44 IST (T+4-5 seconds): Both fuel control switches are manually moved to CUTOFF, one second apart, causing immediate engine failure. The RAT deploys to provide emergency power.
13:38:47 IST (T+8 seconds): First Officer Kunder asks, “Why did you cut off?” Captain Sabharwal responds, “I didn’t.”
13:38:49-50 IST (T+10-11 seconds): The fuel switches are returned to RUN, initiating engine relight. Engine 1 begins to regain thrust, but Engine 2 lags.
13:38:56 IST (T+17 seconds): A pilot transmits “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY,” unanswered by air traffic control.
13:39:11 IST (T+32 seconds): The aircraft crashes nose-up into the hostel block, with the CVR capturing the final sounds of impact, described by investigators as “gut-wrenching.”
The manual nature of the shutdown, confirmed by forensic analysis of the FDR’s switch position data, and the phrase “No turning back” rule out accidental activation or a software glitch, such as the one noted in a 2018 FAA advisory about fuel switch vulnerabilities on Boeing aircraft.
Theories Behind the Manual Shutdown
The “No turning back” audio and forensic evidence have sparked three primary theories:
Deliberate Pilot Action: The phrase and manual switch movements strongly suggest Captain Sabharwal intentionally initiated the shutdown. U.S. investigators, cited by The Wall Street Journal, note that Sabharwal’s role as the non-flying pilot gave him access to the switches while Kunder focused on flying. The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association and the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) have rejected claims of pilot suicide, citing the pilots’ exemplary records and demanding voice authentication. No motive—personal, financial, or ideological—has been established, but the phrase implies a resolute decision.
Coercion or Crew Dynamics: The CVR’s “I didn’t” response suggests possible denial or conflict. Aviation psychologist Dr. Sarah Klein, quoted in The Federal, posits that “No turning back” could reflect a dominant pilot exerting influence, though no prior discord between Sabharwal and Kunder has been documented. The rapid sequence of events leaves little room for coercion, but the possibility remains.
Systemic Misinterpretation: While a 2019 All Nippon Airways incident involving a software-induced engine shutdown and the 2018 FAA advisory suggest potential systemic issues, the forensic confirmation of manual commands undermines this theory. The EAFR’s failure and RAT deployment indicate possible electrical anomalies, but the CVR’s deliberate phrasing points to human action.
Investigation Controversies and Public Response
The AAIB’s failure to include “No turning back” in the preliminary report has drawn criticism from experts like Peter Goelz, former NTSB managing director, who calls for a complete CVR transcript with identified speakers. India’s rejection of ICAO assistance and reliance on its new black box labs, operational since April 2025, have raised concerns about investigative credibility, as noted by Corriere della Sera. The EAFR’s unexplained failure, despite being in the intact tail section, fuels speculation of data loss or suppression.
Victims’ families, including Sameer Rafik, whose cousin perished, have demanded the full CVR release, accusing the AAIB of obscuring the truth. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) and ALPA have criticized the investigation for implying pilot error without conclusive evidence, potentially tarnishing the crew’s reputation. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has urged restraint, noting ongoing inspections of the airline’s 33 Boeing 787s, as mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Implications for Aviation Safety
The Air India Flight 171 crash and its forensic findings highlight critical safety issues:
Cockpit Video Recorders: The absence of video evidence, as recommended by the NTSB, leaves ambiguity about who moved the switches. Visual data could confirm manual actions.
Pilot Mental Health: If deliberate action is confirmed, enhanced psychological screenings may be prioritized, though unions caution against stigmatizing pilots without evidence.
Systemic Standards: The non-mandatory 2018 FAA advisory underscores the need for global mandates on critical systems like fuel switches.
Investigative Integrity: Selective CVR disclosures and India’s insular approach risk undermining trust in aviation investigations.
Conclusion
The forensic analysis of Air India Flight 171’s black box, revealing the phrase “No turning back” and manual shutdown commands, confirms a deliberate act, setting the final 17 seconds apart in aviation history. The sequence—marked by intentional fuel cut-off, pilot confusion, a futile Mayday call, and the harrowing sounds of impact—challenges the official narrative of error or malfunction. As the AAIB prepares its final report, expected within a year, the aviation community and victims’ families demand answers about who initiated the shutdown and why. The truth, locked in the black box and the wreckage, will shape aviation safety and accountability for years to come.
