By Soutik Biswas | BBC News, India

When Air India Flight 171 crashed in June, killing all 260 on board, the tragedy devastated families and stunned a nation. But instead of providing clarity, the recently released preliminary investigation report has sparked a wave of speculation—centered around a chilling moment in the cockpit.

The 15-page report, though technical in tone, contains a brief but startling exchange: just seconds after takeoff, both fuel-control switches were flipped to “cut-off,” abruptly shutting down the engines—a move typically made only after a plane has safely landed. As the engines lost power, the cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other, “Why did you do the cut-off?” The reply: “I didn’t.”

But the recording doesn’t reveal who said what.

What Happened?

The aircraft—a 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner—took off from Ahmedabad around 1:00 PM local time. Just under a minute later, it slammed into a densely populated neighborhood. As per the report, one engine was beginning to recover when the crash occurred, while the other remained unresponsive.

The pilots—Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (56) and First Officer Clive Kunder (32)—were both experienced, with over 19,000 hours of combined flight time, much of it on the Boeing 787. Both had passed pre-flight health checks.

The mysterious shutdown of both engines immediately triggered suspicions, and multiple international outlets have suggested the senior pilot may have been responsible—claims that have drawn sharp criticism from investigators and the Indian aviation community.

The Voice Recording Controversy

The brief cockpit exchange about the fuel switch is at the center of a growing debate. Some aviation analysts say if the switches were manually turned off, it could suggest pilot confusion, error—or even intentional sabotage. But investigators are warning against jumping to conclusions.

An aviation expert in Canada, speaking anonymously, noted two possibilities: one, that a pilot accidentally turned off the fuel and later denied it out of shock or embarrassment. Two, that the other pilot asked the question deliberately, knowing the voice recorder would be reviewed.

“Even if investigators identify who spoke, that doesn’t automatically reveal who flipped the switches,” the expert said.

Adding to the confusion is the decision to include only a single line from the cockpit voice recorder in the preliminary report. The full transcript is expected in the final report. For now, this selective release has only intensified public suspicion.

Reactions to the Leak and Media Speculation

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) strongly criticized the speculative reporting in international media. “These actions are irresponsible,” the AAIB stated, “especially as the investigation is still ongoing.”

Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is supporting the probe, called the reports “premature and speculative.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association condemned the rush to assign blame, calling it “reckless” and “deeply insensitive.”

Sam Thomas of the Airline Pilots’ Association of India added that “speculation has triumphed over transparency.” He emphasized the need to review maintenance records and flight data alongside cockpit recordings before drawing any conclusions.

Could It Be a Technical Failure?

One theory still being considered is a malfunction in the aircraft’s FADEC system (Full Authority Digital Engine Control), which could, in rare cases, shut down the engines if it receives erroneous data. However, the timing of the pilot’s question—“why did you cut off [the fuel]?”—implies the switch movement occurred before that, weakening the theory of an automatic shutdown.

Investigators have confirmed that both fuel switches were moved to “cut-off” and that the engines failed because of it. Whether the switches were turned manually or triggered by a system glitch remains unconfirmed.

Some Indian media also floated the possibility of an electrical fire in the tail, but experts believe any such fire likely occurred after the crash, due to spilled fuel or battery damage.

What’s Next?

AAIB Chief GVG Yugandhar clarified that the purpose of the preliminary report was simply to explain what happened—not why. He promised transparency moving forward and reiterated that the final report would delve into root causes and recommendations.

An emergency hotline has been launched for relatives, and bodies not yet identified will undergo DNA testing. Meanwhile, investigators continue to comb through the flight data and other evidence.

As aviation analyst Shawn Pruchnicki summarized, “This boils down to two possibilities: pilot confusion—or deliberate action. But the report does not provide enough evidence to prove either.”

For now, the nation—and the world—waits for answers that may never fully come.