New Delhi: India has reacted strongly to a report in an Italian daily, claiming that the investigation into June 2025 Air India crash in Ahmedabad has revealed an “intentional act” by one of the pilots, rather than a technical failure.
Calling this report incorrect and speculative, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) clarified that the investigation into the crash of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad is still ongoing. It dismissed reports that the probe has concluded.
“The investigation is still in progress. No final conclusions have been reached,” the AAIB said, urging media organisations to exercise restraint and avoid premature speculation, which it said could cause public anxiety and undermine the integrity of the investigation
It conducts investigations strictly under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, and India’s obligations under ICAO Annex 13, the AAIB noted.
The AAIB had released a preliminary report in July 2025, providing only factual information available at the time. The final investigation report, containing conclusions and safety recommendations, will be published upon completion.
The preliminary report had led to speculation with protests by pilots’ bodies.
Now, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera has reported, citing unnamed sources, that investigators had determined the crash was caused by an “intentional act” rather than a technical defect. The newspaper report further says that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal has been identified as the primary suspect. US experts assisting in the probe described the findings as a “breakthrough”, it was further reported.
“Aircraft accident investigations are technical, evidence-based processes aimed at determining root causes and enhancing safety,” the AAIB said, stressing that such reports are speculative, as reported by TOI.
The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating Flight AI-171, crashed seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, killing 260 people, including passengers and people in a medical students’ hostel where the aircraft fell.
Only one passenger survived. The preliminary report indicated that fuel control switches were moved from “run” to “cut-off” during the final moments and highlighted cockpit exchanges between the pilots, but did not blame anybody.
