The skies above Ahmedabad turned deadly on June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight 171—a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London—plummeted to earth just 32 seconds after takeoff, erupting in a fireball that claimed 260 lives and left the aviation world reeling. After a grueling year of investigation, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has finally released its official findings: the crash was caused by the captain deliberately moving the fuel control switches to the “CUTOFF” position, starving both engines of fuel in the critical moments following liftoff. The co-pilot, realizing the catastrophe, frantically switched them back—but it was far too late to save the aircraft, its passengers, or themselves.

The Boeing 787, carrying 242 passengers and 18 crew, had just rotated off Runway 23 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when disaster struck. Data from the enhanced airborne flight recorder (EAFR) shows the plane reached takeoff thrust and climbed briefly to about 180 knots. Then, at 8:08:42 a.m.—only three seconds after wheels-up—both engine fuel control switches transitioned from “RUN” to “CUTOFF,” one after the other with a one-second gap. The engines spooled down rapidly, thrust vanished, and the widebody began a fatal descent. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically as power failed, but the aircraft could not sustain flight. It slammed into a building at BJ Medical College hostel in Meghaninagar, killing everyone on board and causing additional ground casualties.

Cockpit voice recorder (CVR) audio captures the horrifying confusion in those final seconds. One pilot—identified by sources as the captain, Sumeet Sabharwal—is heard asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” The response comes instantly: “I did not do so.” The co-pilot, Clive Kunder (32, with 3,403 flight hours), was the pilot flying and had his hands full with the climb-out. Investigators conclude the switches were moved deliberately by the captain, with the first officer only discovering the act and reacting by flipping them back to “RUN” about 10 seconds later. By then, both engines had flamed out irreversibly; the plane had no power to recover.

The AAIB’s final report, released after exhaustive analysis of black boxes, wreckage, simulator recreations, and interviews, rules out mechanical failure, sabotage, or external interference. No evidence of bird strike, fuel contamination, or system malfunction was found. The thrust levers remained forward (takeoff thrust) until impact, confirming the shutdown was isolated to the fuel cutoff switches—controls that require deliberate force and are not prone to accidental movement. The report notes the switches were recovered in the “RUN” position, consistent with the co-pilot’s last-ditch attempt to restart the engines.

Speculation has swirled since the preliminary report in July 2025 first revealed the fuel cutoff. Early theories ranged from inadvertent error to electronic glitch (some experts pointed to possible Thrust Control Malfunction Accommodation system misfire). But the final probe leans heavily toward intentional pilot action by the captain. Sources familiar with the investigation describe a scenario of deliberate shutdown, with no clear motive established—though mental health, personal distress, or other factors remain under confidential review. The co-pilot’s panicked response and denial underscore that he was not complicit; he fought to reverse the action but had mere seconds before the aircraft’s fate was sealed.

The crash—India’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades—sparked immediate global scrutiny. Families of the 260 victims, many British and Indian nationals, have demanded accountability. Air India and Boeing cooperated fully, with no design faults identified on the 787. The airline grounded similar aircraft briefly for inspections, but the AAIB cleared the type. Cockpit procedures for fuel switches have been re-emphasized worldwide, with airlines reviewing training on switch guards and dual-confirmation protocols.

Public reaction has been explosive. On social media, grief mixes with outrage: “How could the captain do this?” “The co-pilot tried everything—too late.” Memorials for passengers, including entire families, continue in Ahmedabad and London. The sole reported survivor stories (unconfirmed in final reports) have fueled endless speculation, but the AAIB stands firm: total loss of life on board.

The tragedy of Flight 171 is now etched as one of aviation’s darkest chapters—a routine departure that ended in 32 seconds of terror, triggered by a deliberate act in the cockpit. As investigators close the file, the question lingers: What unseen pressures could drive a seasoned captain to flip those switches, dooming everyone in a heartbeat? The final report offers facts, but the human why remains a haunting void.