Air India Flight 171 Crash: Cockpit Audio Reveals Chilling Moments, ‘Boeing 787 Experienced Fuel Switch Cut-Off In 2019 Too

July 17, 2025: A cockpit voice recording from the doomed Air India Flight 171 crash has revealed a critical exchange between the two pilots just seconds before the tragic crash that claimed 260 lives on June 12. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the younger co-pilot questioned his senior colleague’s decision to turn off the plane’s fuel-supply switches — a move now at the center of the probe into the fatal incident.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India released a preliminary report last week, which disclosed that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner lost thrust and crashed 32 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport due to a sudden loss of fuel supply. However, it did not identify which pilot made the fatal switch. Now, for the first time, details from the cockpit voice recorder have shed light on the communication inside the cockpit and potentially who initiated the critical error.

According to the report and people familiar with its contents, the fuel control switches were toggled to the “cut-off” position immediately after takeoff. Though the mistake was corrected roughly 10 seconds later, it proved too late to prevent disaster. The first officer, believed to be Clive Kunder, reportedly expressed surprise that the fuel switches were off, asking Captain Sumeet Sabharwal why the controls had been changed. Moments later, the aircraft lost lift and plunged to the ground.

Investigators are currently analyzing whether the switch-off was due to a technical malfunction or human error. To determine accountability, aviation experts are relying heavily on microphone placement inside the cockpit, which may allow them to pinpoint not only the sounds of the switches being flipped but also their direction — potentially identifying who physically moved the switches.

Former FAA inspector Michael Daniel noted that modern cockpit audio systems are designed to capture such spatial data. “There are multiple microphones, including those embedded in the pilots’ headsets. It’s possible to determine which side of the cockpit the sound came from,” he explained.

The AAIB, which has not yet drawn final conclusions, is continuing its investigation with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). In response to the incident, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered inspections of all Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft operating in the country, focusing specifically on the functionality of cockpit fuel control systems.

The incident has prompted involvement from aviation psychologists and medical professionals to assess the role of pilot behavior and possible psychological stress during the flight. According to the Wall Street Journal, which cited sources familiar with the U.S. assessment, the first officer appeared to panic upon realizing the switches were off, while the captain remained calm.

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India has pushed back against the narrative that human error caused the crash, warning against drawing premature conclusions.

Air India’s CEO Campbell Wilson, in a memo to staff earlier this week, urged restraint: “The report identified no cause and made no recommendations. The investigation is far from over. We must avoid speculation and allow experts to do their work.”

The crash has sent shockwaves through the Indian aviation industry and raised broader questions about cockpit training, aircraft system design, and crisis management protocols.