Air India Crash: US Media Reveals Pilots' Final Words.

Air India Crash: US Media Reveals Pilots’ Final Words.

Air India Crash: US Media Reveals Pilots’ Final Words.

First Officer Clive Kunder, though relatively junior, also brought significant skill to the cockpit with 3,403 total flying hours. Both aviators were operating under standard protocols during the ill-fated flight, and their final recorded conversation—recently accessed by US media—has become a focal point in understanding the events that led to the devastating accident.

In a heartbreaking development that continues to send shockwaves through India’s aviation community, new details have emerged from a cockpit voice recording tied to the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad last month. A report by The Wall Street Journal claims that the Captain of the ill-fated Boeing 787 Dreamliner cut off fuel to the aircraft’s engines moments after takeoff—an action that may have led to the fatal crash.

According to the US media report, the cockpit audio reveals a tense and chilling exchange between the two pilots: Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. The transcript allegedly captures a moment of growing panic in the First Officer’s voice as he struggled to comprehend what had happened, while the Captain, reportedly, remained calm.

This revelation has sparked an outpouring of emotion, concern, and controversy—not just among aviation authorities but also among the families of the crew and the wider public, who continue to grapple with the tragic loss. The Air India crash claimed several lives and raised serious questions about aircraft safety, pilot protocol, and accountability.

However, the claims made in the Wall Street Journal have been met with strong opposition in India.

FIP President CS Randhawa, speaking to news agency ANI, expressed deep disappointment over what he described as premature conclusions drawn by the international media without waiting for the official findings.

“Nowhere in the preliminary report has it been mentioned that the fuel control switch was turned off due to a pilot’s error,” Mr. Randhawa stated firmly. “I condemn the article. They said it was the pilot’s mistake. They have not read the report properly, and we will take action against them through the Federation of Indian Pilots.”

He emphasized the importance of patience and integrity in situations involving complex investigations. The detailed final report will take time, and until then, any premature judgment is unfair—to the crew, their families, and to the broader flying community.”

Mr. Randhawa also warned of the dangers of misinformation, especially when it pertains to tragedies involving human lives. These are trained professionals, sons, fathers, daughters, mothers. They deserve the dignity of truth—not speculation,” he said emotionally.

Both were considered competent, skilled professionals by their peers. The implication that the crash may have resulted from a deliberate or erroneous action has therefore shocked many in the aviation industry, particularly those who knew the pilots personally.

The families of the deceased have requested privacy during this period of mourning but have echoed calls for respect and caution in public discourse. “These kinds of reports only add to our pain,” said a relative of one of the victims. “Let the truth come out through the proper authorities. We want answers—but we also want dignity.”

As investigators from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AIIB), in collaboration with international agencies including Boeing and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), continue their probe, the final report is expected to provide more clarity on the sequence of events.

Until then, experts and aviation veterans urge restraint and empathy, reminding the public that aviation accidents are almost never the result of a single factor, and that accountability must come from facts—not from fear, anger, or premature assumptions.

As the world watches closely, one thing remains clear: the loved ones of the victims, and the colleagues who flew alongside them, deserve a full and fair investigation—free from distraction, distortion, or doubt.

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