CLASSIFIED TRANSCRIPT: Air India 171 Captain’s Query About a Phantom Command Shocks Investigators
On July 1, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-9 en route from Delhi to London, crashed into the Arabian Sea, killing all 247 passengers and crew. A classified transcript from the cockpit voice recorder, obtained by a whistleblower and partially leaked on X, has sent shockwaves through the aviation community. At 18 seconds before the crash, Captain Anil Sharma, a veteran pilot with 22,000 flight hours, is heard questioning a command to cut fuel—a command that no one in the cockpit issued. The chilling words, “Who ordered the fuel cut?” have left investigators scrambling to understand the silent switch that changed everything.
The transcript, marked “CLASSIFIED” by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), was meant to remain under wraps until the official crash report is released. However, snippets surfaced on X on July 10, sparking intense speculation. The flight, which departed Delhi at 2:17 AM, encountered no issues until 4:42 AM, when it began a rapid descent from 36,000 feet. The transcript reveals a tense exchange between Sharma and First Officer Priya Menon as the plane lost power. “Fuel’s gone—check the override!” Menon shouts. Sharma’s response, “Who ordered the fuel cut? I didn’t touch it!” is followed by 18 seconds of alarms and silence before impact.
Investigators are stunned by the implication: a critical fuel valve was closed without input from the crew. The DGCA has confirmed the transcript’s authenticity but cautioned against premature conclusions. “We are analyzing all systems to determine how the fuel cutoff occurred,” said DGCA chief Vikram Singh at a July 11 press conference. Theories range from a mechanical failure to a cyberattack, with some X users pointing to unverified claims of a hacked avionics system. One post, viewed 1.8 million times, speculated that a “ghost command” could indicate sabotage, though no evidence supports this.
The crash site, 200 miles off Mumbai, has been combed by international salvage teams, recovering the black boxes and 60% of the wreckage. Data from the flight data recorder (FDR) shows the fuel system shut off at 4:41:53 AM, just 22 seconds before the descent began. The absence of a crew-initiated command has led to scrutiny of the plane’s automated systems, particularly the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). Could a glitch or external interference have triggered the cutoff? The transcript offers no answers, only Sharma’s bewildered question, haunting in its clarity.
On X, the hashtag #AI171Transcript has trended, with users sharing audio reenactments and diagrams of the 787’s fuel system. A post by @AviateTruth, claiming insider knowledge, suggested the plane’s software had a “known vulnerability” patched weeks after the crash. While unverified, such claims have fueled public distrust in Air India and Boeing, already reeling from recent safety controversies. Families of the victims, gathered in Delhi for updates, are demanding transparency. “We need to know why Anil asked that question,” said Rakesh Patel, who lost his wife on the flight. “What changed the fuel?”
The investigation is now focused on the moments before the cutoff. Were there unreported system warnings? Could a crew member have inadvertently triggered the switch? The transcript suggests panic but no clear error by Sharma or Menon, both highly experienced. As salvage efforts continue, the “silent switch” remains a mystery, with the captain’s final question echoing as a grim reminder of the unanswered questions surrounding Air India 171’s tragic end.
