Air India Flight 171 Crash Investigation Prompts Controversy Over Pilot Blame, Electrical Faults

A year ago, Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, en route to London, resulting in the deaths of 260 people on board and 19 on the ground. The subsequent investigation by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been met with considerable controversy, drawing accusations of political and corporate influence.

Disputed Preliminary Findings

The preliminary report, issued a month after the incident, indicated that the aircraft's flight data recorder showed fuel cut-off switches moved to the 'cut-off' position seconds after take-off, potentially starving the engines of fuel. The report also cited a cockpit voice recording where one pilot questioned the other about cutting off the fuel, with the response being a denial. This information, released without a full transcript, led to widespread speculation in international media suggesting pilot error or deliberate action.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), representing 6,000 pilots, condemned the preliminary report as “irrevocably compromised”, filing a complaint with India's Supreme Court alongside Captain Sumeet Sabharwal's father. Former UK air accident investigator Tim Atkinson acknowledged the