Mumbai: The devastating crash of Air India Flight 171 on June 12, 2025, which claimed 260 lives, continues to generate intense scrutiny as the investigation nears its conclusion.
An Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, citing sources from western aviation agencies involved in the probe, reported that Indian investigators have determined that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed due to an “intentional act” with one of the pilots moving both engine fuel control switches to the “cut-off” position shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
The report noted that no technical defects were identified to explain the simultaneous engine shutdown, and analysis of enhanced cockpit voice recordings after cleanup reportedly pinpointed which pilot moved the switches. US experts assisting in the probe have described the findings as “a breakthrough”, the newspaper added.
However, it would be premature to draw any conclusions until the DGCA releases its official report. Air India has maintained full cooperation with authorities but has not yet commented in detail on these latest claims.
Earlier preliminary findings from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released in July 2025, confirmed the fuel switches moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within seconds of takeoff but stopped short of conclusions on intent or error.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was the pilot-in-command, while First Officer Clive Kunder was the co-pilot. “Responsibilities remain unclear: the main suspect is Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who, as emerged a month after the crash, suffered from depression,” the India Today reported, quoting the newspaper.
The AAIB and the Civil Aviation Ministry did not respond for comment on the report, the HT mentioned in its copy.
