“Switch It Off”: The Enigmatic Final Command of Air India 171

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, plummeted into a residential area near Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 260 people. The tragedy, one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in decades, has taken a perplexing turn with the release of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data. Just seconds after takeoff, the captain issued a chilling command: “Switch it off.” Moments later, both engines shut down, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust and the aircraft’s rapid descent. Experts, however, are adamant that this was not a random technical failure, raising questions about human error, system malfunctions, or something more sinister. This article explores the mysterious command, the events leading to the crash, and the ongoing investigation into what went wrong.

The Flight and Its Tragic End

Air India Flight 171 was a routine international flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, carrying 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew members, and two pilots. The aircraft, a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner powered by GE GEnx-1B engines, took off at 1:38 p.m. IST. Within 40 seconds, both engines lost power, and the plane crashed into the BJ Medical College Hostel, 1.85 kilometers from the runway, killing all but one person on board and 19 people on the ground. The sole survivor, Vishwaskumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, has provided little insight into the moments before the crash due to severe injuries.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report on July 11, 2025, detailing a sequence of events that began with the fuel control switches moving from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second of each other, just three seconds after liftoff. This action starved both engines of fuel, triggering a dual-engine flameout. The CVR captured a heated exchange between the pilots: First Officer Clive Kunder, who was flying the aircraft, asked, “Why did you cut off?” to which Captain Sumeet Sabharwal replied, “I didn’t.” Seconds before the crash, the captain’s voice was recorded saying, “Switch it off,” adding a layer of mystery to an already baffling case.

The Mysterious Command

The phrase “Switch it off” has become a focal point for investigators and aviation experts. Unlike the earlier “Cabin lights… all out” from a different Air India 171 incident in 1985, this command was direct and deliberate, yet its intent remains unclear. Was Captain Sabharwal referring to the fuel control switches, which had already been moved to “CUTOFF”? Or was he addressing another system, perhaps in a desperate attempt to mitigate the crisis? The CVR provides no further context, as the recording ends abruptly after the Mayday call at 1:39:05 p.m. IST, just 32 seconds after takeoff.

Aviation analyst Mary Schiavo, cited in the Financial Express, cautions against assuming pilot error, pointing to a 2019 incident involving an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 where a software glitch caused an automatic fuel cutoff. She suggests that a similar malfunction in the Thrust Control Malfunction Accommodation (TCMA) system or the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) could have misinterpreted flight data, triggering an uncommanded shutdown. The AAIB report notes that the aircraft was airworthy, with no hazardous cargo or mechanical faults, but a prior stabilizer position transducer defect logged hours before the flight raises questions about potential sensor malfunctions.

Human Error or System Failure?

The fuel control switches, located between the pilot seats, are designed to prevent accidental activation. Moving them from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” requires a deliberate two-step process: lifting the switch and then shifting it. Experts, including John Cox in a Reuters report, emphasize that the switches’ spring-loaded design makes accidental movement highly unlikely. The AAIB’s finding that both switches were flipped within one second further complicates the narrative, as such rapid, simultaneous action suggests either intentional input or a systemic issue.

The CVR’s revelation that Kunder questioned Sabharwal about the cutoff, followed by the captain’s denial, has sparked debate. Some, including a Wall Street Journal report, suggest Sabharwal, as the pilot monitoring, may have inadvertently or deliberately moved the switches. Others, like aviation expert Richard Godfrey, argue that the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—a backup power system—before the fuel cutoff indicates a broader electrical or software anomaly, ruling out pilot error. The RAT’s activation, confirmed by CCTV footage, suggests the aircraft experienced a power loss even before the engines shut down.

Investigative Challenges

The AAIB, in collaboration with Boeing, General Electric, and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is scrutinizing multiple angles. The absence of cockpit video recorders, as noted in a World War Wings article, limits investigators’ ability to confirm who, if anyone, manipulated the switches. Maintenance logs reveal prior issues with the aircraft, including a December 2024 electrical snag and a 2015 cabin air compressor surge, prompting scrutiny of recurring system faults. A 2018 FAA advisory about disengaged locking mechanisms on Boeing fuel switches, though not mandatory for inspection, has also resurfaced as a potential factor.

The Federation of Indian Pilots has condemned speculative media reports, arguing that incomplete CVR excerpts undermine the crew’s professionalism. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu echoed this sentiment, urging caution until the final report is released. The investigation is now focusing on human-machine interaction, crew resource management, and possible software glitches in the FADEC or TCMA systems. The failure of the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) to activate upon impact further complicates the analysis, suggesting additional system failures.

Implications for Aviation Safety

The Air India 171 crash has reignited calls for mandatory cockpit video recorders, which could provide visual evidence of pilot actions. It has also prompted Air India to conduct fleet-wide checks on Boeing 787 fuel control switches, with no issues found to date. The tragedy underscores the aviation industry’s ongoing struggle to balance human oversight with increasingly complex automated systems. If a software glitch is confirmed, it could lead to new regulations for Boeing’s Dreamliner fleet, particularly regarding TCMA and FADEC reliability.

A Haunting Legacy

The command “Switch it off” encapsulates the tragedy’s unresolved questions. Was it a desperate response to a malfunctioning system, a misunderstood directive, or something else entirely? The loss of 260 lives demands answers, not only for the victims’ families but also for the future of aviation safety. As investigators delve deeper, the interplay of human decisions and technological systems remains at the heart of this mystery. The final report, expected in 2026, may clarify whether Captain Sabharwal’s words were a reaction to an unfolding disaster or a clue to its cause, ensuring that the lessons of Air India 171 endure.