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Air India Boeing 787 Crash Investigation Points to Deliberate Pilot Action

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The investigation into the Air India Boeing 787 crash that occurred on June 12 in Ahmedabad, resulting in 260 fatalities, is entering a critical phase. According to sources close to the process cited by Bloomberg, investigators are increasingly leaning toward a deliberate action in the cockpit as the primary line of inquiry, after having ruled out mechanical failures and acts of sabotage.

This represents a profound and extremely sensitive shift in one of the worst disasters in Indian commercial aviation, carrying technical, human, and political implications that are far from resolved.

Current Findings: Technical Exclusions and Cockpit Focus

According to available information, experts participating in the investigation have excluded aircraft failure and found no evidence of external interference. This conclusion aligns with an early assessment by U.S. authorities, which also indicated that the accident was unrelated to technical issues with the Boeing 787.

With these factors removed from the equation, pilot action has become the predominant hypothesis. The aircraft crashed minutes after takeoff while on a route between Ahmedabad and London, leaving only one survivor.

Key Data: Fuel Switches

A preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)—issued as part of standard procedure—provides the most compelling technical evidence to date: the fuel cutoff switches were moved from the “run” to the “cutoff” position. This caused the fuel supply to the engines to be interrupted, leading to a rapid loss of altitude.

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The document adds a crucial passage from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR): “In the cockpit recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he had cut the fuel. The other pilot replied that he had not done so”. This exchange reinforces the theory that the event did not originate from an automatic system failure, though it does not yet allow for the establishment of individual responsibility.

Pilots: Experience, Profiles, and Controversy

Commanding the flight was Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, with over 15,600 flight hours. The first officer was Clive Kunder, who had 3,403 hours of experience.

Previously leaked information had already suggested that the captain might have operated the fuel controls. This point has faced strong resistance from the pilots’ families and labor unions, who believe the crew members are being used as scapegoats to deflect attention from potential manufacturer liabilities.

The tension has even reached the judicial level: Captain Sabharwal’s 91-year-old father, whom the pilot cared for personally, has petitioned the Supreme Court of India for an independent investigation.

Victims and Survival

The flight was carrying 169 Indian citizens, 53 Britons, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals when it struck a hospital accommodation building near the Ahmedabad airport.

Against all odds, only one person survived: Viswashkumar Ramesh, who managed to emerge from the wreckage alive. Aviation safety specialists described his escape as “practically impossible,” highlighting the violence of the impact and the narrow window for survival.

An Open Case and Unanswered Questions

While the hypothesis of deliberate pilot action is currently the strongest, the investigation remains ongoing, and a final report has not been issued. Furthermore, no official conclusions have been made public confirming whether this was an intentional act, extreme human error, or a chain of events not yet fully understood.

The possibility of suicide has been mentioned in public debate, but it has not been confirmed by the AAIB and remains a highly sensitive topic for both the industry and the affected families.

An Uncomfortable Precedent for Commercial Aviation

This case once again brings cockpit security protocols, pilot mental health management, and the complex relationship between technical investigations, public pressure, and corporate responsibility under scrutiny.

Until the final report is published, the Air India Boeing 787 crash will remain an uncomfortable reminder that, even in an era of highly automated aircraft, the human factor continues to be the most critical—and most fragile—link in aviation safety.

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