Air India crash: Captain possibly cut fuel supply

Air India crash: Captain possibly cut fuel supply

Air India Crash: Voice Recording Suggests Captain May Have Cut Off Fuel Supply

A recent voice recording from the cockpit of Air India flight AI171, which tragically crashed on June 12, has raised alarming questions about the moments leading up to the disaster. According to a Reuters report citing U.S. move that ultimately led to the deaths of over 260 people.

This revelation has added a chilling and deeply emotional layer to an already heartbreaking incident, shaking the aviation community, passengers’ families, and investigators alike.

A Shocking Possibility

The Boeing 787 was under the control of First Officer Clive Kunder when he noticed that the captain, identified as Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, had moved the fuel switches from In the recording, the first officer can be heard questioning the decision, asking why the switches had been changed, and urging the captain to restore the supply immediately.

The captain’s response, according to early interpretations of the audio, was a denial. Whether it was a misunderstanding, an error, or a deliberate act remains unclear, but the very suggestion that human decision-making may have contributed to the crash has left families devastated.

Preliminary Findings and Growing Questions

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India released a preliminary report on July 12, confirming that a fuel cutoff had indeed occurred. However, the report did not attribute the action to either pilot, maintaining neutrality until the full investigation is completed.

The two pilots had significantly different flying experiences. This gap in experience adds another layer of complexity to understanding the cockpit dynamics at the time.

While not included in formal documentation yet, the U.S. assessment has pointed toward the possibility of pilot error or interference as a probable cause of the tragedy. Investigators from both India and the U.S. continue to examine flight data recorders, voice recordings, and crew records to piece together what truly happened inside that cockpit.

Families in Grief, Seeking Closure

For the families of the 260-plus people who lost their lives, this emerging theory is both painful and confusing. Many had been waiting for answers, hoping that mechanical failure or unforeseen technical issues were to blame — something impersonal, something that wouldn’t add to their grief.

To now consider that the crash might have been caused, in part or whole, by the actions of someone trusted to protect lives in the sky is a deeply distressing thought. Some families have already begun calling for stricter psychological evaluations for pilots and greater cockpit surveillance to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

A Tragedy That Demands Transparency

Aviation experts caution against jumping to conclusions. Voice recordings can be misinterpreted without full context, and investigations like this require months — sometimes years — of meticulous work. Still, the initial findings have certainly shifted the tone of the investigation from mechanical failure to potential human failure.

As more evidence emerges, one thing remains clear: this was a tragedy that shook not only a nation but an entire industry. The lives lost on June 12 must not be forgotten, and the truth, no matter how difficult, must be pursued relentlessly.

For now, the world waits — for answers, for accountability, and for justice for the passengers who boarded that plane expecting to reach home safely.