New findings from the ongoing investigation into last month’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad have shed light on the possible events inside the cockpit just before the fatal incident, which claimed 260 lives.
The wreckage of Air India’s Boeing 787-8, which was operating flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London, remains under tight security and was still visible at the crash site a month after the tragedy.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the preliminary analysis by U.S. investigators, data from the aircraft’s black box is helping reconstruct the final moments of the June 12 flight.
Fuel supply was cut mid-air
The cockpit voice recorder revealed a pivotal incident soon after takeoff: the fuel supply to both engines was abruptly cut off.
“The black-box audio, which captured the pilots’ conversation, suggests that it was the captain who manually shut off the switches controlling fuel flow to both engines,” the report noted, based on information from people briefed on the early findings.
This deliberate action to cut fuel mid-climb is now a key element in the crash probe.
WSJ: Black-box data may reveal critical moments of Air India crash
A report by *The Wall Street Journal* (WSJ) cites U.S. investigators who believe that black-box recordings may help reconstruct the final moments of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which resulted in the deaths of 260 people.
Fresh revelations from the ongoing investigation have shed light on what may have happened inside the cockpit just before the aircraft, operating as flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London, went down. The wreckage of the Boeing 787-8 remains under tight security and was still visible at the crash site a month after the incident.
Fuel supply shut off mid-air
According to the WSJ, the cockpit voice recorder captured a crucial moment shortly after takeoff when fuel to both engines was suddenly cut off. Citing sources familiar with the preliminary assessment, the report says the captain manually switched off the fuel supply to both engines.
"A black-box recording of conversation between the pilots indicates the captain turned off the switches that controlled fuel flow," the report notes. This action — cutting fuel mid-climb — has now become a central focus of the investigation.
Pilot responses caught on audio
The cockpit recording also reflects the emotional response of the crew during the crisis. Sources told WSJ that the first officer appeared surprised and panicked, while the captain remained composed. This contrast — one pilot calm and experienced, the other distressed — is likely to be a key part of understanding the cockpit dynamics and decision-making at the time.
Preliminary report suggests captain's involvement
While the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has not officially attributed responsibility to any pilot in its initial findings, sources cited by WSJ claim that the preliminary report suggests it was the captain who flipped the switches. The report also noted that one pilot questioned why the switches were changed, while the other denied doing so — keeping their identities ambiguous.
Timing of switch movements under scrutiny
Investigators are now closely examining the timing of the fuel switch movements to determine intent. According to the WSJ, the two switches were flipped in one-second intervals and then reactivated about 10 seconds later. This deliberate-seeming sequence has led safety experts to question whether it could have occurred accidentally.
U.S. investigators consider criminal angle
While the AAIB has yet to determine whether the cause was human error or mechanical failure, the WSJ report adds that U.S. officials believe there may be grounds for a potential criminal investigation, depending on how the evidence evolves.