Investigators probing the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash that claimed 260 lives are increasingly focusing on the possibility of deliberate action by the pilot. The incident occurred on June 12, 2024, when the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plummeted shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. The fireball crash not only killed nearly all 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board but also took the lives of medical students in a nearby hostel struck by the wreckage.
Key Developments in the Investigation
Initial speculation surrounded mechanical issues, but experts have now ruled out equipment failure. Sabotage also shows no evidence at this stage. Attention has shifted to the actions of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the 56-year-old pilot at the controls. Preliminary findings indicate he deactivated the aircraft’s fuel control switches moments after liftoff, leading to the sudden loss of power.
A U.S. analysis of cockpit and flight data, conducted in December 2024, confirmed the switches were moved to the cutoff position. Despite challenges from heavy takeoff noise, officials noted a tense exchange in the cockpit. Video footage captures the plane ascending briefly before stalling and crashing back to earth.
Family Defense and Legal Outlook
Captain Sabharwal’s 91-year-old father, Pushkaraj Sabharwal, staunchly defends his son, describing him as a highly skilled aviator with over 15,000 flying hours, including more than 8,000 on the Dreamliner. He emphasized that Sumeet regularly aced his aviation exams and dismissed U.S. findings as biased, urging an independent probe.
An Indian court has stated that no blame can be assigned to the pilot at this juncture. The final report, originally slated for June 2025, may arrive earlier and could confirm pilot involvement as the primary cause.
The Sole Survivor’s Escape
Amid the devastation, one British passenger miraculously survived, captured on video walking away from the fiery scene unscathed. Captain Sabharwal, known for his steady reliability, was just months from retirement while grieving his mother’s death and caring for his elderly father.
