AAIB rejects reports pinning blame on pilot for crash

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Thursday urged the media and public to avoid speculation and premature conclusions about the 12 June crash of Air India Flight AI 171, which killed 260 people, including 241 on board and 19 on the ground.

The statement followed reports, including one by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), suggesting pilot action may have caused the crash.

“It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by family members of the deceased passengers, crew of the aircraft and other deceased persons on ground,” AAIB director general GVG Yugandhar said in a statement. “Certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing.”

Citing US officials, the WSJ reported that cockpit recordings indicated Captain Sumeet Sabharwal switched off the fuel control just before the Boeing 787 crashed into a hostel building at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad.

The report said First Officer Clive Kunder questioned the move and panicked, while the captain remained calm.

AAIB’s preliminary report, released a month after the crash, confirmed both engines lost fuel supply moments after liftoff. The two fuel control switches “transitioned” from RUN to CUTOFF within a second of each other, but it did not clarify whether they were moved manually or triggered otherwise.

AAIB stressed the preliminary report explains what happened, not why.

“At this stage, it is too early to reach any definite conclusions,” the bureau said, adding the final report will present the root causes and recommendations.

Yugandhar said the investigation is being conducted “rigorously and professionally” as per AAIB rules and international standards, and updates will be provided as necessary.

Civil aviation officials and independent experts also warned against forming conclusions from preliminary findings, noting key evidence may emerge later.

“While this accident has understandably drawn public shock, this is not the time to create anxiety over aviation safety based on unfounded facts,” Yugandhar said.

Following the WSJ report, Air India inspected fuel control switch locking mechanisms across its Boeing 787 fleet and found no issues.

Flight AI 171, bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff. Captain Sabharwal had logged 15,638 hours, and First Officer Kunder 3,403. The crash is India’s deadliest airline disaster in four decades.