The Indian government has formally dismissed international media speculation regarding the cause of the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash that occurred in June 2025. This rebuttal comes in response to claims published by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera suggesting pilot intentionality behind the disaster that claimed 260 lives.
India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, through Junior Minister Murlidhar Mohol, has emphatically rejected the foreign publication’s assertions that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal deliberately switched off the aircraft’s fuel switches. Minister Mohol challenged the credibility of external sources, stating: “Should we have faith in our own agencies or outsiders? Our agencies are working on it. Once the final report is finalised, then only will it be justifiable to comment on it.”
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has issued an official clarification addressing the growing speculation surrounding the Ahmedabad crash. The agency emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that no conclusions have been reached regarding causation or responsibility. “It would be inappropriate to assign blame to any individual or factor before the inquiry is fully completed,” the Bureau stated.
AAIB officials outlined the comprehensive nature of air crash investigations, which require meticulous technical analysis including examination of flight data recorders, cockpit voice recordings, and complex aircraft systems. The Bureau specifically denied reports that the probe had been finalized and urged both media and the public to rely exclusively on official updates.
The investigation agency confirmed that all findings will undergo transparent review before public release, with the final report encompassing technical determinations and contributing factors behind the catastrophic incident. This process ensures thorough examination of all available evidence before reaching definitive conclusions about the circumstances that led to the Boeing Dreamliner’s crash.