Aviation expert flags pilot suicide theory in Air India Flight 171 crash probe

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released a preliminary report on the June 12 crash of Air India Flight 171, triggering intense speculation among experts and victims’ families about the potential of a pilot-induced fuel cutoff.

As the probe continues, aviation authorities urge restraint until final findings are released.

The AAIB report reveals that shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, both engine fuel cutoff switches were manually moved from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” position within one second—immediately cutting thrust and causing both engines to fail.

The guarded design makes accidental activation unlikely under normal conditions.

Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been cut, to which the other replied, “I didn’t do it.” Investigators have not identified who spoke the lines or which pilot performed the switch actions, amplifying the mystery.

Aviation safety expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan believes the simultaneous activation strongly suggests deliberate human intervention, potentially pointing toward pilot suicide or sabotage, as reported by NDTV.

Ranganathan emphasized that the fuel control switches on a Dreamliner are heavily secured and cannot be accidentally engaged during flight.

Pilot associations have challenged the framing. The Airline Pilots’ Association of India called the investigation partially opaque and criticized assumptions of guilt, demanding inclusion in the inquiry process for greater transparency .

The crash killed 241 people onboard and 19 on the ground, leaving just one known survivor. It is India’s deadliest aviation disaster in nearly three decades and the first hull loss of a Boeing 787 globally.

While Boeing and Air India have pledged cooperation, the preliminary report ruled out aircraft design flaws or fuel quality issues as causes.

However, attention has turned to a 2018 FAA advisory bulletining a potential fault with fuel switch locking mechanisms—inspections were recommended but not mandatory and reportedly not carried out on the doomed aircraft.