In June 2025, Air India Flight 171, traveling from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of 260 individuals. The incident is currently under investigation, with the Indian Supreme Court recently commenting on the matter. An interim report released in July primarily examined the pilots’ actions, raising questions about potential faults with the aircraft itself.
As updates unfolded, Air India’s CEO stated that investigations indicated no mechanical issues with the plane or its operations. Meanwhile, it was noted in discussions at the Aviation India 2025 summit that the investigation is being led by India’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), but U.S. officials are also involved due to the aircraft’s American design.
The AAIB’s preliminary report mentioned that fuel cutoff switches were moved to the “cutoff” position moments after takeoff, leading to a rapid loss of thrust. Questions arose about whether this action was intentional or accidental based on recorded cockpit conversations. Critics, including former safety board officials, suggested that the report’s focus on pilot actions could distract from other possible causes, such as electrical faults affecting the digital engine control systems.
Some aviation experts have posited that evidence supports the theory of an electrical disturbance rather than pilot error. Capt. Amit Singh criticized the preliminary report as being biased, noting it could mislead the investigation away from potential technical failures.
The Supreme Court is considering a petition for a separate inquiry into the crash. Justice Surya Kant expressed a belief that no blame should be assigned to the flight’s captain. The investigation into the underlying causes of the tragedy is ongoing; however, the complexities inherent in air safety investigations suggest that final conclusions may take significant time to establish.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33pzypkkdzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss