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đź’Ą Tragedy in Ahmedabad: The Fall of Flight AI171


 On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171—a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner designated VT‑ANB—departed Ahmedabad for London Gatwick with 242 souls on board. Less than 40 seconds into the climb, both engines mysteriously shut down, and the plane plunged into a hostel near BJ Medical College, just 1.85 km from the runway .

A Lone Voice in the Wreckage

Astonishingly, only one passenger survived—Vishwaskumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin. The crash claimed 241 lives on the aircraft and 19 more on the ground, injuring dozens in the heavily damaged hostel .

The Investigation Unfolds

🔍 Fuel-Cut Mystery

Investigators quickly homed in on the engine fuel-control switches. The preliminary Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report detailed how both switches were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second, slashing off engine thrust and leading to a catastrophic descent .

Cockpit audio captured a tense exchange: one pilot demanded, “Why did you cut off?” The other replied, “I did not do so.” Moments later, barely enough time was left to attempt a restart before the plane spiraled into disaster .

🧠 Pilot Focus

The AAIB has not assigned fault, but US sources and media started probing the possibility that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal himself toggled the switches—deliberately or accidentally—while First Officer Clive Kunder managed the flight controls .

Mental Health in the Spotlight

The unsettling theory echoing in some reports is that mental health may have played a role. Allegations of Captain Sabharwal facing personal issues—grief, separation, depression—have fueled speculation. This mirrored earlier cases like the Germanwings disaster, emphasizing how vital psychological monitoring is in aviation .

Beware the Rush to Judgment

The NTSB and AAIB stress caution. U.S. investigators warn that early media claims are “premature and speculative,” urging patience until the full technical investigation—expected to take up to a year—concludes . In India, unions and families demand a judicial probe to ensure accountability and transparency .

Lessons from the Wreckage

  • Safety protocols: Amid focus on fuel-switch designs, the DGCA has inspected Air India’s Boeing fleet to verify locking mechanisms and prevent accidental toggle .

  • Mental wellness: Aviation experts call for more robust mental health support systems for pilots—breaking down stigma to foster early detection and care.

  • Human-technology interplay: The crash underscores that even advanced aircraft like the Dreamliner remain vulnerable to human decisions, intentional or otherwise.

What Comes Next?

Both AAIB and NTSB continue their data-centric examination—analyzing flight data recorders, cockpit voice tracks, maintenance logs, and more. Public patience will be tested; only the final AAIB report, along with supplementary findings, will reveal the real story behind the switches and the crew.

⚠️ Final Word

Flight AI171 left an indelible scar—not just on aviation history as the worst crash in a decade, but in our collective conscience. Over 260 souls were lost. This tragedy presses us to strengthen safety nets, both mechanical and human, and to remember: behind every flight is a delicate balance between technology and trust.

✈️ For those eager to delve deeper:

  • Read AAIB's preliminary summary of Flight AI171

  • Learn about the NTSB’s caution against premature conclusions 

  • Understand pilot mental health considerations after the crash 

đź”” Subscribe to aviation safety feeds—true clarity arrives with forensic detail, not speculation.

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