A definitive investigative report has concluded that the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight 171, which resulted in 260 fatalities, was an intentional act by the aircraft’s captain. The findings, initially published by Italian daily Corriere della Sera and corroborated by Western aviation sources, reveal that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal deliberately disabled the fuel switches shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical student hostel, killing 241 of the 242 people aboard and 19 individuals on the ground. The investigation, conducted jointly by Indian authorities and American aviation experts, systematically ruled out mechanical failure as the cause. This conclusion is supported by black box data analysis which indicated manual movement of engine ignition switches prior to impact.
Evidence from cockpit voice recordings reveals one pilot questioning why the fuel had been cut off, with Captain Sabharwal denying the action. The report further indicates the pilot had been experiencing depression in the month preceding the disaster. These findings have generated significant controversy, with pilot associations in India protesting the allegations and the Sabharwal family demanding a fresh investigation amid challenges to the mental health assessment.
The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have yet to formally respond to these allegations. Meanwhile, reports indicate Air India has offered conditional financial settlements to victims’ families requiring them to waive future legal action against both the airline and aircraft manufacturer.