Ahmedabad Plane Crash: India Denies Pilot Blame Amid Global Reports
In one of the darkest days in India’s aviation history, Air India Flight AI171 tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people. Recent international reports have pointed fingers at the senior pilot, claiming deliberate action caused the disaster. But now, India’s aviation authority has firmly rejected those reports, calling them speculative, premature, and misleading.
⚠️What Exactly Happened?
- Flight Number: AI171
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
- Route: Ahmedabad to London Gatwick
- Crash Time: 3 minutes after takeoff
- Casualties:
- Passengers onboard: 230
- Crew members: 12
- Onboard deaths: 241
- Ground fatalities: 19 (including medical students in a nearby college hostel)
- Total deaths: 260
- Survivor: Only 1, a British national who escaped from the rear exit during impact
🕵️♀️What Are The Reports Saying?
Recent foreign media outlets have claimed:
- The senior pilot allegedly cut off the fuel supply mid-air.
- Cockpit voice recordings captured the co-pilot asking, “Why did you shut off the fuel?”
- The pilot reportedly denied doing anything wrong, moments before the plane lost both engines.
These reports have gained global attention, triggering emotional reactions and debate online.
India Responds: “This Is Not the Final Truth”
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a statement:
“The investigation is ongoing. It is unethical and irresponsible to assign blame without a complete analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), and technical evaluations.”
AAIB clarified that:
- The fuel control switches were found in ‘cut-off’ position, but why and how is still under review.
- Mechanical failure, human error, instrument malfunction, or even software issues are all being considered.
- Final report will be published only after international coordination, including with Boeing and the FAA.
🧑✈️Who Was the Senior Pilot?
- Name: Captain Sumeet Sharma (name fictionalized for privacy)
- Experience: 18,000+ flight hours
- No previous incidents recorded
- Known as calm and competent by crew and peers.
Many pilots’ unions in India have backed him, calling the global media “too quick to target the cockpit without verified data.”
🧠Why Rushing Blame Is Dangerous
False reporting in the early stages:
- Hurts victims’ families
- Harms pilots’ reputations
- Can influence the investigation
- Undermines trust in aviation safety
India has urged all media outlets to act responsibly and let the technical teams complete their work.
🕯️Remembering the Victims
Among the deceased:
- 3 doctors,
- A group of final-year medical students,
- A senior Gujarat IAS officer,
- and children under the age of 5.
Entire families were wiped out. A silent candle march was held in Ahmedabad on June 15 to honor their memories.
What’s Next in the Investigation?
- Final report expected: Early 2026
- Aircraft logs and black boxes sent to Boeing HQ for deep analysis
- All Air India 787-8 aircrafts temporarily grounded and cleared
📌Final Thoughts
India’s stand is clear: no premature blame. The Ahmedabad crash has left a deep wound, and now is the time for truth, not blame games. Only a complete investigation can reveal what truly happened in those final tragic minutes.