Air India flight 171 crash: Pilot deliberately cut fuel switch, report reveals

[Paco Dennis]

Incident happened on June 12, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. The plane crashed into a student hostel, killing 260 people, including 241 of the 242 on board and 19 on the ground​

The report, published on Thursday in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, said Capt Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot-in-command, allegedly turned off the fuel switches – that is “almost certainly” an intentional act. The paper cited Western aviation agency sources.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/...ilot-deliberately-cut-fuel-switch-report-says

That is too many people to take if this is a suicide.

 

[hollydolly]

I read this a few days ago... They are saying that the Captain was the one who switched everything off......one voice is heard saying..'why did you turn them off'''.. and another voice is saying ''I didn;t''....

...it's all very strange !

 

[JustDave]

Intentional, or a total lapse into a state of confusion. I'm thinking of that, because one voice said "I didn't." (turn off the fuel) A suicidal pilot could have just crashed into the nearest building, without further discussion, explanation, or denial.

 

[Grampa Don]

Sometimes the brain can misfire and we do things really stupid. Just recently here an elderly woman stepped on the gas instead of the brake, ran into a restaurant and killed 3 people.

 

[Murrmurr]

Intentional, or a total lapse into a state of confusion. I'm thinking of that, because one voice said "I didn't." (turn off the fuel) A suicidal pilot could have just crashed into the nearest building, without further discussion, explanation, or denial.

According to an initial report, no one switched off the fuel.

To move the fuel switch, you have to first lift the toggle-lever, then move it left or right and then up or down. That takes some effort, and the main pilot would surely have seen it being done. Even if he missed it for some reason, a red light located directly in front of him comes on the moment the fuel switch is lifted. ATC gets an indication as well, but reported they didn't.

A final report isn't expected for at least several more months. Final reports following plane crash investigations can take as long as 1 to 3 years.

But at this point, it's suspected that a catastrophic electrical failure occurred due to preventable condensation of moisture, and that India Airline failed to install metal shielding under the bathroom floor, which Boeing recommended (if not ordered) about a year earlier. There's clear evidence that the pilots did manage to restart the engines, but hadn't gained nearly enough altitude before they spooled up to full power for flight.

 

[oldman]

Frank: I never heard of ATC being notified if a fuel switch has been messed with in any which way. ACARS notes it and sends it back to the United Airlines chief mechanic. In turn, he verifies with the Captain of the plane that his fuel switch has been shut off. Other upper level management is also notified. They will take immediate action by meeting and monitoring the situation. This is all done in a matter of moments.

This is an emergency situation, so the Captain has a responsibility to report the incident to the ATC. According to the NTSB preliminary report both switches were cut off. I remember the crash, but so much has happened since this event, I didn’t follow up on it. I spent time following the accident that Greg Biffle was involved with.

What puzzles me is the fact that both switches were moved to the “cut-off” position. The NTSB has been checking the switches thinking maybe they were defective. My opinion is that it’s doubtful, but possible, I guess.

ACARS=Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System. This system automatically monitors all gauges and switches for any defects while the plane is in the air. If a defect or incident occurs, the pilots receive an automatic alarm and notification via a printout and the chief mechanic is also notified. In the cockpit, we receive codes that need to be addressed by using our cockpit manual. Any system failures are immediately addressed and if the Captain ascertains an emergency has been detected, they will alert ATC and take immediate action by requesting a deviation to land at the closest airport if necessary. There are instances where the pilot can make the repair or correction.

 

[Murrmurr]

Frank: I never heard of ATC being notified if a fuel switch has been messed with in any which way. ACARS notes it and sends it back to the United Airlines chief mechanic. In turn, he verifies with the Captain of the plane that his fuel switch has been shut off. Other upper level management is also notified. They will take immediate action by meeting and monitoring the situation. This is all done in a matter of moments.

Thank you, oldman. A report I saw said ATC gets an indication, I assumed by radar.

This is an emergency situation, so the Captain has a responsibility to report the incident to the ATC.

So ATC is notified via radio? Maybe that's what was said, and I didn't recall correctly...it's been quite a while.

I remember the crash, but so much has happened since this event, I didn’t follow up on it. I spent time following the accident that Greg Biffle was involved with.

I followed an excellent YouTube channel called Airline News with Geoffrey Thomas to get daily updates while there was a lot of activity and a lot to report. I just checked and saw there's new information from him about the Air India flight. I'm going to watch it in a bit.

Most of the info in my earlier post came from that channel. Thomas's co-host, Richard Godfrey, is an airline mechanic and engineer with 30+yrs experience. He sent a full analysis letter to Boeing and at least one of the investigative agencies (I forget which) about the bathroom condensation issue, which was very well-received.

The bathroom on those planes sits directly above crucial wiring bundles and circuit systems.

What puzzles me is the fact that both switches were moved to the “cut-off” position. The NTSB has been checking the switches thinking maybe they were defective. My opinion is that it’s doubtful, but possible, I guess.

ACARS=Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System. This system automatically monitors all gauges and switches for any defects while the plane is in the air. If a defect or incident occurs, the pilots receive an automatic alarm and notification via a printout and the chief mechanic is also notified. In the cockpit, we receive codes that need to be addressed by using our cockpit manual. Any system failures are immediately addressed and if the Captain ascertains an emergency has been detected, they will alert ATC and take immediate action by requesting a deviation to land at the closest airport if necessary. There are instances where the pilot can make the repair or correction.

I liked the analysis Richard Godfrey sent out. It was very professional, thorough, and it made sense. It also highlighted India airline's poor maintenance and maintenance record-keeping, its track-record of penny-pinching, and its habit of threatening and firing whistle-blowers.