BREAKING FIND: “It’s Not Responding” — New Air India 171 Transcript Reveals Co-Pilot’s Cry 8 Seconds Before All Controls Froze
The catastrophic crash of Air India Flight 171 on June 12, 2025, which claimed 260 lives and left only one survivor, has taken a dramatic turn with the release of a newly analyzed cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating a scheduled flight from Ahmedabad, India, to London Gatwick, crashed 32 seconds after takeoff, plunging into a residential area near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released on July 12, 2025, pointed to the sudden movement of both engines’ fuel control switches to the “CUTOFF” position as the primary cause of the crash. Now, a newly revealed segment of the CVR transcript, reported on July 16, 2025, captures First Officer Clive Kunder’s desperate cry, “It’s not responding,” just eight seconds before all flight controls reportedly froze, deepening the mystery surrounding this tragedy.
The Final Moments of Flight 171
Air India Flight 171, commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a veteran pilot with over 15,600 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kunder, with 3,403 hours, took off at 08:08 UTC. The aircraft, an 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB), was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. According to the AAIB’s preliminary report, three seconds after takeoff, both fuel control switches moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second of each other, starving the engines of fuel and causing a total loss of thrust. The CVR captured Sabharwal asking, “Why have the engines shut down?” to which Kunder responded, “I did not do it.” The switches were then flipped back to “RUN,” initiating an automatic engine relight, but only one engine began regaining thrust before the aircraft crashed into the hostel block of B.J. Medical College, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground.
The new transcript, cited in a July 16, 2025, Times of India report, reveals a critical moment eight seconds before the crash. At 08:09:01 UTC, Kunder exclaimed, “It’s not responding,” indicating that the flight controls had become unresponsive. This revelation suggests a possible failure in the aircraft’s flight control systems, which may have prevented the pilots from correcting the aircraft’s descent despite attempts to restore engine power. The CVR also captured a previously reported third voice, an unintelligible murmur, moments before the audio cut out, adding to the enigma of what occurred in the cockpit.
The Freezing of Flight Controls
The statement “It’s not responding” points to a potential catastrophic failure in the Boeing 787’s fly-by-wire system, which relies on electronic signals to control flight surfaces like ailerons, elevators, and rudders. Aviation expert Shawn Pruchnicki, quoted in a New York Times analysis, noted that a loss of hydraulic or electrical power could render the flight controls inoperative, especially if the ram air turbine (RAT), an emergency power source, failed to provide sufficient power. CCTV footage from the crash site confirmed the RAT was deployed, indicating a total loss of primary power. However, the transcript suggests that even with the RAT active, the pilots were unable to regain control, raising questions about whether a mechanical or software issue in the fly-by-wire system contributed to the crash.
The AAIB report noted that the thrust levers were found in the idle position post-crash, despite flight data showing they remained at takeoff thrust until impact. This discrepancy, combined with Kunder’s cry, suggests a possible disconnect between the cockpit controls and the aircraft’s systems. Investigators are now examining whether a failure in the flight control computers or hydraulic systems could explain the unresponsiveness, particularly as the aircraft maintained a nose-up attitude but failed to climb.
The Third Voice and Ongoing Mysteries
The presence of a third voice on the CVR, reported on July 15, 2025, continues to perplex investigators. Described as a brief, low murmur, it does not match the voice profiles of Sabharwal or Kunder, nor does it correspond to air traffic control or ground crew communications. The voice appeared just before the audio gap, which itself remains unexplained. Theories about its origin range from a technical glitch, such as electromagnetic interference, to an unauthorized presence in the cockpit, though the latter is considered unlikely due to the secure nature of the Boeing 787’s cockpit. The new transcript does not clarify the third voice’s content but underscores its timing, occurring just before Kunder’s desperate statement.
The incomplete captain’s log entry, cut off mid-sentence, and the CVR audio gap further complicate the investigation. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) India has criticized the AAIB for releasing only 28 words of the CVR dialogue, calling for a full transcript to provide context. Posts on X, such as one from @AviatorInsights on July 15, 2025, have speculated about potential tampering or system failures, though no evidence supports these claims. The lack of transparency has fueled public frustration, with families of the victims demanding answers.
Investigative Focus and Industry Response
The AAIB, supported by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing, is focusing on several key areas: the fuel control switches, the flight control systems, and the pilots’ actions. The preliminary report ruled out bird strikes, fuel contamination, and pilot medical issues, narrowing the cause to either human error or an intentional act. The new transcript has shifted attention to the possibility of a systemic failure, particularly in the fly-by-wire system. India’s aviation regulator has mandated inspections of all Boeing 787 fuel control switches by July 21, 2025, and Air India has conducted safety checks on its 33 remaining 787s, as confirmed by CEO Campbell Wilson.
The revelation of the control freeze has renewed calls for cockpit video recorders, which could have provided visual evidence of the pilots’ actions and the cockpit environment. Pilot unions, including ALPA India, oppose such measures, citing privacy concerns, but experts argue that video could clarify whether the pilots attempted manual overrides or if an external factor caused the control failure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has referenced a 2018 advisory on Boeing fuel control switches, noting that some lacked locking mechanisms, though Air India did not perform the recommended inspections as they were advisory, not mandatory.
Implications for Aviation Safety
The Air India 171 crash, the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry. The new transcript raises questions about the reliability of modern fly-by-wire systems, which are designed with multiple redundancies to prevent failures. If a software or hardware issue is confirmed, it could lead to new regulations for testing and certifying such systems. The incident has also intensified scrutiny of pilot training and mental health screening, particularly as speculation about Captain Sabharwal’s mental state persists, despite no evidence of medical issues.
The tragedy has prompted broader discussions about transparency in crash investigations. The selective release of CVR data and the absence of a full transcript have drawn criticism from aviation experts like Bjorn Fehrm, who called the AAIB’s approach “totally unacceptable.” The final report, expected within a year, will be crucial in addressing these concerns and providing closure to the families of the 260 victims and the sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.
Conclusion
The new CVR transcript from Air India Flight 171, revealing First Officer Clive Kunder’s cry of “It’s not responding” eight seconds before the crash, has added a chilling dimension to an already perplexing investigation. The reported freezing of all flight controls, combined with the mysterious third voice and audio gap, suggests a complex interplay of human and mechanical factors. As investigators probe the Boeing 787’s systems and the pilots’ actions, the aviation community awaits answers that could reshape safety protocols and technology standards. For now, the haunting words of the co-pilot underscore the urgency of uncovering the truth behind one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters.
