Air India Crash: Fuel Shutoff by Captain Suspected in Fatal 2025 Incident, WSJ Reports

NEW DELHI / NEW YORK — July 18, 2025 — A new investigation into the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 suggests the aircraft’s captain may have manually shut off fuel to both engines shortly after takeoff, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal, citing officials familiar with black box recordings and preliminary data.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner went down on June 12, shortly after departing Ahmedabad, en route to London Heathrow. All 241 people on board were killed, along with 19 on the ground, in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters.

Key Findings From the Investigation

According to sources cited by the WSJ:

• The fuel control switches for both engines were flipped to “cutoff” mode one second apart, shortly after takeoff.

• The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captured First Officer Clive Kunder questioning the action, reportedly saying: “Why did you do that?”

• The captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, allegedly responded with denial or confusion, claiming he had not touched the switches.

• Though the switches were turned back on within seconds, the engines failed to restart before the aircraft crashed.

The findings align with an interim report released last week by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which confirmed the engine shutoff sequence but did not assign blame or intent.

Official and Industry Reactions

Air India (Statement):

“We are fully cooperating with all authorities. No conclusions should be drawn until the final investigation is complete.”

AAIB:

“We reject speculative reporting. The preliminary report states only the mechanical sequence, not the cause or motive.”

Federation of Indian Pilots:

“Irresponsible leaks and conjecture risk damaging the credibility of this complex investigation.”

U.S. officials speaking to the WSJ reportedly believe a criminal inquiry could be warranted, although no formal charges or accusations have been made. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has not publicly commented on that possibility.

Timeline of Events: AI-171 Crash

What Caused the Switch Activation?

Several theories remain under investigation:

• Deliberate act by a crew member

• Accidental activation due to human error

• Mechanical malfunction or software issue

• Crew disorientation or medical event

Notably, the FAA issued a 2018 advisory highlighting accidental fuel switch activations in certain aircraft models, including early 787 configurations. However, the aircraft in question had passed recent inspections.

Broader Implications

The crash has reignited global conversations around:

• Cockpit resource management

• Mental health monitoring of pilots

• Aircraft system safeguards against human error

• Media ethics in early crash reporting

Aviation analysts note the growing tension between public transparency and investigative confidentiality, particularly as high-profile international agencies like the NTSB and FAA are involved in the review.

What Happens Next

The AAIB is expected to release a full accident report by early 2026, including voice and data analysis, maintenance logs, and human factors review. Boeing engineers are also assisting with forensic analysis of the engine systems and cockpit controls.

Meanwhile, Indian aviation regulators have ordered inspections of all Dreamliners’ fuel-control assemblies by July 21.

The emerging theory that the fuel supply to both engines was intentionally or mistakenly shut off mid-flight is now central to the ongoing investigation. While evidence points to possible pilot action, officials stress that technical faults and system errors remain under review. With international pressure mounting and legal implications looming, the final findings could have far-reaching consequences for airline safety procedures and cockpit design protocols.

Sources:

• WSJ: Senior Pilot Under Scrutiny

• Reuters: Fuel Switches Flipped Before Crash

• Times of India: AAIB Pushes Back on Speculation