Tue, 22 Jul 2025

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 The voices in the cockpit fuelling controversy over Air India crash

Air India 171's crash report offered no closure - just more speculation and one haunting, unexplained detail.
According to the investigation's findings, one pilot asked another why he cut off the fuel, but it remains unclear who made the statement or what their intentions were. The captain had more than 19,000 hours of flight experience on the Boeing 787. Media outlets have suggested that senior pilots may be involved in the crash, citing sources claiming the first officer repeatedly asked the captain why he shut off the engines. However, Indian investigators and aviation experts have urged restraint in drawing conclusions until the final report is released. The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has stated that media attempts to draw conclusions through selective reporting are "irresponsible" while the investigation remains ongoing. Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), described media reports as "premature and speculative". Critics argue that speculation has overshadowed transparency in the investigation, with Sam Thomas, head of the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India), saying that speculation has triumphed over transparency. A Canadian air accident investigator suggested that pilot 'A' might have operated the switches deliberately and with intent to deflect attention. The final report is expected to include time-stamped dialogue and a detailed analysis of engine data, which could help clarify the circumstances surrounding the crash. However, even after the report is released, it remains uncertain whether the question of who turned off the fuel will be answered definitively. Some speculate that the plane's Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system might have triggered an automatic shutdown due to false signals from sensors. Nonetheless, this theory is disputed as the pilot's exclamation "why did you cut-off [the fuel]?" came after the switches moved to cut-off. A former NTSB managing director has suggested that the AAIB should release a voice recorder transcript with identified voices.
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