Aviation expert Capt. Mohan Ranganathan alleges that the crash may have been a case of pilot suicide, citing the manual nature of the fuel cutoff switches and discrepancies in cockpit voice transcripts.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi | July 12, 2025 : The crash of Air India Flight AI-171 on June 12, just 32 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, has ignited intense controversy over whether the disaster was caused deliberately by the cockpit crew. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en route to London Gatwick, crashed into a residential neighborhood, killing 241 of 242 onboard and 19 on the ground.
A preliminary report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on July 11 revealed that both engine fuel control switches were manually moved to the “cut-off” position seconds after liftoff. Aviation experts say such switches require intentional physical action to toggle — fueling speculation of a pilot-induced crash, possibly even a suicide.
🔹 The Incident and AAIB’s Initial Findings
Flight AI-171 took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 IST, carrying 228 passengers and 14 crew, including Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar.
According to the AAIB report, both engine fuel cutoff switches were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within seconds of takeoff — an action that resulted in immediate and total thrust loss. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?”, followed by the other responding, “I didn’t do it.”
Despite attempts to relight the engines, the aircraft crashed at 08:09:11 UTC. Emergency systems, including the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), deployed as a final backup for hydraulic and electrical power. Only one passenger survived — a British citizen of Indian origin seated in 11A.
🔹 Expert Claims Suggest Deliberate Human Action
Aviation safety expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan, speaking to NDTV, said the crash bears the hallmarks of intentional sabotage.
“It cannot be done automatically or due to a power failure because the fuel selectors are not sliding types. You have to deliberately lift and pull them to the ‘off’ position. The idea that it was accidental doesn’t hold.”
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He emphasized that the cockpit switches are guarded, designed to prevent accidental toggling. The AAIB report noted that both were switched off manually within one second of each other.
Ranganathan added:
“I’ve heard that the captain had some medical history. Nothing else explains why, just as the aircraft was rotating, both switches were moved one after the other. It has to be deliberate.”
He also flagged discrepancies in the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) summary, which did not clearly attribute which pilot made the cutoff, stating the language was too vague.
🔹 Psychological and Medical Factors in Focus
Ranganathan alleged, based on input from Air India insiders, that Captain Sabharwal had been on extended medical leave and may have had an undisclosed condition. The AAIB report confirms both pilots were medically cleared and passed their latest checks, but Ranganathan argues India lacks robust psychological screening for pilots.
“We treat pilots like machines. Stress, fatigue, and emotional instability are ignored in favor of maintaining flight schedules.”
AAIB Preliminary report into #AI171 crash suggests a deliberate action of a Pilot led to both engines loosing thrust after VR due to Fuel Control Switches being pulled to “Cut Off” position. I hate to break it to you but this is turning out to be India’s version of German Wings. pic.twitter.com/lxoatcITXL
— Kailash Rao (@perpetuallybold) July 12, 2025
🔹 Competing Theories and Pushback
Not everyone agrees with the suicide theory. India’s Airline Pilots’ Association (ALPA-I) has fiercely criticized the preliminary investigation into the deadly Air India AI171 crash, accusing the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of prematurely assigning blame to the pilots and leaking sensitive, unsigned reports to the media.
ALPA-I President Captain Sam Thomas expressed outrage today over an unsigned preliminary report appearing in international media, specifically referencing a July 10 article in The Wall Street Journal that cited the AAIB’s findings. “How did sensitive information from an ongoing investigation appear in international media without any responsible official signature or attribution?” Captain Thomas questioned in an official statement.
The pilots’ union slammed the “secrecy” surrounding the probe and the continued exclusion of experienced pilots from the investigative team, accusing the AAIB of promoting a “presumption of pilot guilt” before the investigation is complete.
ALPA-I further highlighted a critical service bulletin mentioned in the report, concerning potential issues with the fuel control switch gates. The union questioned whether Air India had implemented the recommendations from a 2018 FAA advisory warning of potential disengagement of the fuel switch lock. Air India reportedly did not act on this advisory, citing its non-mandatory status.
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“The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error,” ALPA-I asserted, categorically rejecting this presumption. The association insisted on a “fair, fact-based inquiry” and reiterated its demand to be included in the investigation process, at least as observers, to ensure accountability. “Transparency and the inclusion of qualified personnel, especially line pilots, are essential for public trust,” Captain Thomas added.
At the same, Former IAF pilot Captain Ehsan Khalid argued that no pilot would intentionally shut off fuel during takeoff, while others like Mark D. Martin and John Cox pointed to possible electronic control system or thrust malfunction as alternate causes.
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran noted that the aircraft had a “clean technical record,” while Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu urged restraint:
“Let us not rush to conclusions. We have confidence in our crew. Let’s await the final report.”
🔹 Past Precedents of Pilot Suicide
Captain Ranganathan compared the case to past pilot-induced crashes:
- Germanwings Flight 9525 (2015)
- SilkAir Flight 185 (1997)
- EgyptAir Flight 990 (1999)
- China Eastern Flight 5735 (2022)
- Malaysia Airlines MH370 (2014)
He cited his direct involvement in the SilkAir crash probe, where suicide was initially denied but later accepted by U.S. investigators.
“Pilot suicide has tragically repeated itself in aviation history. When stress and emotional instability intersect with access to cockpit controls, outcomes can be catastrophic.”
🔹 Public Reaction and Missing Safeguards
Social media reactions on X are polarized. Some users accuse the airline of cover-up; others call for stricter pilot mental health evaluations. The absence of cockpit video, despite long-standing NTSB recommendations, has been flagged as a critical investigative gap.
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The AAIB’s final report, expected in 12–24 months, will determine whether the crash was a tragic technical failure — or something more chilling.
The suggestion that AI-171 was deliberately crashed by a pilot remains highly controversial. The AAIB has not confirmed any conclusions, but expert analysis — particularly from Captain Ranganathan — has pushed the narrative of intentional human action into public debate.
For now, the investigation continues amid public grief, growing demands for accountability, and the aviation world watching closely.
