In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the aviation world, the full cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript from Air India Flight 171 was finally released on July 31, 2025, after weeks of frustrating delays. The recording captures a harrowing moment where First Officer Clive Kunder, his voice cracking with emotion, whispered, “I’m not ready,” just seconds before the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plummeted to the ground. The crash, which occurred on June 12, 2025, claimed the lives of 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 individuals on the ground, marking India’s most devastating aviation disaster in recent history. As investigators pore over the details, the transcript has intensified scrutiny on pilot decisions, potential mechanical failures, and the urgent need for enhanced cockpit monitoring systems.

The ill-fated flight departed from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:38:39 IST, bound for London Gatwick. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned 56-year-old pilot with over 15,600 flight hours, handed control to Kunder, 32, who had 3,400 hours of experience and was the pilot flying. The aircraft, laden with 230 passengers and 12 crew members, accelerated to 180 knots. But catastrophe unfolded almost immediately: at 13:38:42, both fuel control switches inexplicably shifted from “RUN” to “CUTOFF,” cutting off fuel to the engines and resulting in a complete loss of thrust.

The preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) details the rapid sequence of events. Five seconds after the switches moved, the ram air turbine (RAT) deployed to provide emergency power. However, recovery was impossible at such a low altitude. The CVR picks up Kunder’s urgent query at 13:38:44: “Why did you cut off?” Sabharwal’s response was immediate and firm: “I didn’t do it.” It was then, at 13:38:46, that Kunder uttered his poignant whisper, a phrase that experts believe reflected overwhelming panic or disbelief amid the crisis. By 13:38:52, the switches were flipped back to “RUN,” initiating an automatic engine relight. One engine began to respond, but the other did not stabilize. Captain Sabharwal declared a “Mayday” at 13:39:05, reporting thrust loss, but just six seconds later, the plane slammed into a hostel at B.J. Medical College, 1.7 kilometers from the runway, exploding in flames.

The black box recovery process was fraught with challenges, contributing to the delayed release of the transcript. Two Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs), which integrate voice and data functions, were retrieved: the first on June 13 and the damaged second on June 16. Data extraction from the forward recorder occurred on June 24 in Delhi, but the aft unit’s severe damage required international assistance from bodies like the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch. Technical hurdles, including voice authentication and coordination delays, extended the wait, sparking public outrage. Families of victims, such as Imtiyaz Ali, who lost four loved ones, voiced their anguish over the perceived lack of transparency, while media speculation ran rampant.

International outlets fueled the frenzy. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera alleged Kunder repeatedly accused Sabharwal of tampering with the engines, and The Wall Street Journal hinted at deliberate manipulation by the captain. Such claims drew sharp rebukes from the NTSB and India’s Federation of Indian Pilots, who labeled them as irresponsible and premature. The eventual release of the full CVR transcript, covering the flight’s final minutes, paints a picture of a cockpit descending into chaos. It begins with Sabharwal’s routine handover: “The plane is in your hands.” As alarms blared and engine indicators dropped, the pilots’ exchanges reveal mutual confusion and desperate attempts to rectify the situation—audible clicks of switches and escalating warnings underscore their futile efforts. Sabharwal’s composed “Mayday” was the last transmission, but the recording fails to pinpoint who—or what—caused the switches to move.

This ambiguity has spawned multiple theories. The fuel switches on the 787, positioned centrally between the pilots, demand a deliberate two-step process to engage “CUTOFF,” rendering accidental flips improbable. Aviation analyst Geoffrey Dell told CNN that activating both within a second post-takeoff points to intentionality, as no standard procedure justifies it. Yet, a 2018 FAA bulletin on similar issues in Boeing 737 switches—where locks could disengage—suggests a possible mechanical glitch, though Air India did not mandate inspections since the advisory was non-binding.

Controversy has also swirled around the pilots’ backgrounds. Reports from The Daily Telegraph highlighted Sabharwal’s prior mental health leave, prompting whispers of pilot suicide, but Air India affirmed both cleared pre-flight checks. Pilot unions, including the Indian Commercial Pilot’s Association and the Airline Pilots’ Association of India, have condemned these insinuations as baseless, urging focus on maintenance logs instead. Simulations by Air India trainers showed the 787 could ascend on one engine, highlighting the dual failure’s lethality. The RAT’s early deployment hints at an electrical anomaly, possibly linked to a battery issue, as reported by The Federal.

Amid the uncertainty, the crash has revived calls for cockpit video recorders. The NTSB, referencing incidents like EgyptAir Flight 990, argues cameras could clarify actions invisible to audio alone—such as hand movements on controls. IATA chief Willie Walsh noted videos might have resolved key questions here. Opponents, like the Air Line Pilots Association, cite privacy risks and potential data leaks, warning of sensationalism. Still, experts like John Nance insist safety must prevail.

As the AAIB prepares its final report, expected next year, unanswered questions linger. Was the crash due to human error, sabotage, or a latent defect? Kunder’s whispered plea encapsulates the tragedy’s enigma, compelling the industry to confront vulnerabilities in training, technology, and oversight. For the grieving families and a watchful public, the pursuit of truth continues, potentially transforming aviation standards worldwide.