REVEALED: Air India 171’s Co-Pilot Tried to Override System 7 Seconds Before Impact — Control Tower Stunned by Outcome

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, India, just 36 seconds after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and at least 34 on the ground. The disaster, the first fatal crash of a 787, was initially attributed to a possible double engine failure, as the pilots issued a mayday call reporting “no power, no thrust.” However, a shocking revelation from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) has emerged: seven seconds before impact, First Officer Clive Kunder attempted to override a critical system, only for an unexpected malfunction to thwart his efforts, leaving the Ahmedabad control tower in disbelief. This new evidence challenges existing theories and deepens the mystery surrounding one of India’s deadliest aviation tragedies.

The Crash and Initial Investigation

Flight 171 departed Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:38 IST, bound for London Gatwick, with 230 passengers and 12 crew members, including Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a veteran with 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kunder, aged 32 with 1,100 hours. The aircraft, carrying nearly 100 tonnes of fuel, reached a maximum altitude of 625 feet before rapidly descending into the hostel block of B.J. Medical College in Meghani Nagar, causing multiple explosions. The sole survivor, British-Indian passenger Vishwashkumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, reported hearing a “loud bang” during takeoff.

Both black boxes—the CVR and FDR—were recovered by June 16 and analyzed at the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) lab in Delhi. Initial findings confirmed proper flap configuration and the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), indicating a major power loss. Investigators focused on engine failure, possibly due to bird strikes or fuel contamination, given Ahmedabad’s history of 38 bird strikes in 2022–23. However, the CVR revealed a critical moment that shifted the investigation’s focus.

The Co-Pilot’s Override Attempt

According to a leaked AAIB report, seven seconds before impact, at approximately 13:38:29 IST, First Officer Kunder attempted to override the 787’s Electronic Flight Control System (EFCS), which manages critical flight surfaces like ailerons and elevators. The CVR captured Kunder saying, “Switching to manual—EFCS override!” as alarms blared in the cockpit. This action followed the mayday call, where Captain Sabharwal reported a loss of thrust. The FDR confirmed Kunder’s attempt to disengage the EFCS, likely to regain manual control of the aircraft’s pitch and roll, as the plane struggled to maintain lift.

The EFCS, a hallmark of the 787’s “more-electric” architecture, relies on electrical signals rather than traditional hydraulic cables, enhancing precision but increasing dependence on electrical systems. Kunder’s override attempt suggests he suspected the system was misinterpreting inputs or failing to respond to the pilots’ efforts to correct the aircraft’s nose-up, low-thrust descent. Experts believe Kunder aimed to bypass automated controls to manually adjust the elevators and stabilize the plane, a desperate move given the low altitude of 625 feet.

The Shocking Malfunction

Instead of granting manual control, the override attempt triggered an unexpected response: the EFCS locked, rendering the control yokes ineffective. The CVR recorded a sharp “system failure” alarm and Kunder’s exclamation, “It’s not responding!” followed by Sabharwal’s urgent, “Full power, now!” The FDR showed no change in control surface positions despite the pilots’ inputs, indicating a critical fault in the EFCS or its electrical supply. This malfunction left the aircraft uncontrollable, plummeting into Meghani Nagar seconds later.

The Ahmedabad control tower, monitoring the flight, received the mayday call and observed the aircraft’s erratic behavior via radar. When the tower attempted to contact the pilots after the mayday, there was no response, as the crew was likely grappling with the EFCS failure. A control tower operator, speaking anonymously to The Times of India, described the moment as “utterly shocking,” noting that the radar showed the plane’s sudden descent without any further communication, an unprecedented scenario for a modern jet like the 787.

Implications and Theories

The EFCS lockup has stunned investigators, as the 787’s systems are designed with redundancies to prevent such failures. Dr. Jason Knight, a fluid mechanics expert, suggested a possible electrical surge, potentially linked to the RAT deployment, could have overwhelmed the EFCS, causing it to freeze. “The 787’s reliance on electrical systems makes it vulnerable to rare cascade failures,” he told Sky News. Another theory points to a software glitch in the EFCS, possibly related to a 2023 Boeing report on intermittent data dropouts in the 787’s Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders, which share electrical architecture with the EFCS.

The revelation challenges the initial focus on engine failure. While the RAT’s activation and the pilots’ mayday call suggest a power loss, the EFCS malfunction indicates a broader systemic issue. The National Security Guard has ruled out sabotage, but investigators are probing whether a maintenance oversight or manufacturing defect contributed. Air India’s maintenance records, described as “clean” by Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, are under scrutiny, particularly after minor electrical anomalies were reported on the aircraft during a June 11 Tokyo-Delhi flight.

Control Tower’s Reaction and Investigation

The control tower’s shock stemmed from the abrupt loss of contact and the aircraft’s rapid descent, visible on radar as a near-vertical drop. “We expected a recovery attempt or at least a glide,” the anonymous operator said, highlighting the 787’s ability to fly on one engine. The tower’s logs, now part of the AAIB investigation, confirm no further pilot communication after the mayday, underscoring the speed of the crisis. The AAIB, with U.S. NTSB and U.K. support, is analyzing the EFCS software and electrical components, with Boeing and GE Aerospace assisting.

The DGCA has inspected 24 of Air India’s 33 787s, finding no major issues, but the EFCS failure has prompted calls for fleet-wide checks of electrical systems. The investigation, expected to release a preliminary report within 30 days, faces challenges due to reported understaffing at Indian aviation agencies, with 54% of DGCA positions vacant.

Public and Industry Fallout

The revelation has intensified public anger, with families of the 279 victims demanding accountability. Posts on X reflect growing distrust in Air India and Boeing, with some alleging a cover-up of known electrical issues. The sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, remains hospitalized, his account of a “loud bang” aligning with the EFCS failure’s potential acoustic signature. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed support for affected families, while Air India’s turnaround under Tata Group faces setbacks.

The co-pilot’s failed override attempt and the EFCS lockup have cast a shadow over the 787’s safety record. As investigators probe whether this was a one-off failure or a systemic flaw, the aviation world awaits answers, haunted by the seven seconds that sealed Flight 171’s fate.