The government on Saturday pushed back against a foreign newspaper report that said Indian investigators would conclude one of the pilots of Air India Flight 171 intentionally turned off the aircraft’s fuel switches, saying the probe is still ongoing and no final conclusions have been reached. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told PTI that investigation agencies are “probing the matter” and that comments should wait until the final report is formally published.
The Italian daily Corriere della Sera published a story saying investigators were preparing to state in their final report that a pilot deliberately cut fuel to the Boeing 787-8 that crashed after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The article said sound analysis identified which pilot made the switch and described the act as “almost certainly” intentional. The report named Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who died in the accident, as central to the allegation.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) rejected those accounts as “incorrect and speculative,” saying the investigation remains in progress and that “no final conclusions have been reached.” The bureau has not released a final public report on the causes of the crash.
Relatives of victims and the Indian pilots’ association have criticised the way the inquiry is proceeding, accusing authorities of shaping the probe to focus blame on the cockpit crew. Sabharwal’s family has urged broader scrutiny that includes the aircraft manufacturer, the airline and other operational or technical factors.
The June 12, 2025 crash of AI-171, operating from Ahmedabad to London, remains one of India’s deadliest air accidents; 260 people, including 241 passengers, were killed. With the AAIB still investigating, officials say it would be premature to accept or reject media claims until the bureau publishes its final, corroborated findings.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/incorrect-and-speculative-govt-pushes-back-after-foreign-media-alleges-intentional-pilot-action-in-ai-171-crash-13979986.html
Category: India
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-02-15 13:44:00
