COCKPIT CHAOS: The Final 90 Seconds of Air India Flight 171

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad, India, became the center of one of the most perplexing aviation disasters in recent history. The flight, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, was airborne for a mere 32 seconds before crashing into a densely populated neighborhood, claiming 260 lives, including 241 onboard and 19 on the ground. Only one passenger, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived. The preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released on July 11, 2025, revealed a chilling sequence of events marked by cockpit confusion, a critical error with the fuel control switches, and a missed opportunity that might have saved 53 British lives among others. This article delves into the final 90 seconds of Flight 171, piecing together the chaos that unfolded in the cockpit and the haunting questions that remain.

A Routine Takeoff Turns Catastrophic

At 1:37 p.m. IST, Air India Flight 171 was cleared for takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport’s Runway 23. The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned commander with over 15,600 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kunder, with 3,400 hours, began its takeoff roll. The weather was clear, with light winds at 6 knots and visibility of 6 kilometers. All systems appeared normal as the Boeing 787 reached its takeoff speed of 155 knots and lifted off at 1:38:39 p.m. The plane climbed to a maximum altitude of 625 feet, with an airspeed peaking at 180 knots, according to flight data.

However, just three seconds after liftoff, at 1:38:42 p.m., both engine fuel control switches inexplicably moved from the “RUN” to the “CUTOFF” position within one second of each other. This action starved the engines of fuel, causing an immediate loss of thrust. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captured a moment of shock as one pilot—identity unspecified—asked, “Why did you cut off?” The other responded, “I didn’t do it.” This brief exchange, laden with confusion, marked the beginning of a rapid descent into disaster.

The Fuel Switch Mystery

The fuel control switches, located on the center console just behind the throttle levers, are designed with safety features to prevent accidental activation. Each switch requires a deliberate upward pull to unlock before it can be moved to the “CUTOFF” position, a maneuver typically performed only after landing or in response to an engine fire. Protective guard brackets further reduce the risk of unintended movement. Experts have noted that moving both switches simultaneously with one hand is nearly impossible, making accidental deployment highly unlikely.

The AAIB report did not conclusively determine how or why the switches were moved. The absence of mechanical or maintenance issues, as confirmed by the report, shifted scrutiny to the cockpit. Speculation has arisen about whether the action was intentional, a catastrophic error, or the result of an unforeseen technical malfunction. The CVR transcript, as partially reported by outlets like Corriere della Sera, suggests First Officer Kunder, who was flying the aircraft, repeatedly questioned Captain Sabharwal, asking, “Why did you shut off the engines?” over six seconds, to which Sabharwal vaguely replied, “I didn’t do it.”

A Desperate Attempt to Recover

By 1:38:47 p.m., as the aircraft began losing altitude, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency power source, deployed automatically, indicating a total loss of engine power. The pilots, realizing the engines were losing thrust, moved the fuel switches back to the “RUN” position within 10 seconds of the cutoff. Engine 1 began to relight and was regaining thrust, but Engine 2 failed to recover despite multiple attempts. The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) also auto-started, but its 90-second startup time was far too slow to assist in the critical moments.

At 1:39:05 p.m., just 26 seconds after takeoff, one pilot transmitted a frantic “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” call to Ahmedabad’s air traffic control (ATC). The ATC responded, requesting the flight’s call sign, but received no reply. The aircraft, now sinking rapidly, skimmed over trees and an incineration chimney before crashing into the dining hall of a doctors’ hostel at B.J. Medical College, 1.85 kilometers from the runway. CCTV footage captured the Dreamliner’s low, wobbling flight path, with its tail sagging deeply before impact, followed by a massive fireball.

The Missed Chance

The preliminary report highlights a critical missed opportunity in the final seconds. Had the pilots managed to sustain the relight of Engine 1 or successfully restarted Engine 2, the aircraft might have gained enough thrust to maintain altitude or execute a controlled emergency landing. The rapid sequence of events—32 seconds from liftoff to impact—left little time for reaction. Aviation experts note that dual engine failure at such a low altitude, just 625 feet, is almost unrecoverable. “When both engines fail and the aircraft starts going down, you go numb,” one pilot told the BBC. “Your mind is on one thing: the flight path. Where can I put this aircraft down safely? And in this case, there simply wasn’t enough altitude to work with.”

The 53 British passengers, among the 169 Indians, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian onboard, were part of a diverse group whose lives might have been spared had the engines regained power in time. The sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, described unfastening his seatbelt and escaping through a broken section of the fuselage. His survival underscores the narrow margin between life and death in such disasters.

Speculation and Controversy

The crash has sparked intense debate, with some media outlets, particularly in the West, pointing to Captain Sabharwal as potentially responsible for moving the fuel switches. A Wall Street Journal report, citing U.S. officials, suggested Sabharwal, as the monitoring pilot, had a freer hand to operate the switches while Kunder focused on flying. However, India’s Federation of Indian Pilots and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have criticized such reports as “speculative” and “premature,” emphasizing the need for a full CVR transcript to avoid misinterpretation.

Allegations of Sabharwal’s mental health struggles, including bereavement leave following his mother’s death, have further fueled controversy. Captain Mohan Ranganathan, an Indian aviation safety expert, claimed Sabharwal had taken medical leave in recent years, though Air India and Tata Group officials denied this, confirming both pilots passed recent Class I medical exams. Such speculation has drawn ire from pilot unions, who argue it undermines the crew’s professionalism and causes distress to their families.

Investigation and Aftermath

The AAIB, with support from Boeing, General Electric, and investigators from the U.S. and U.K., is meticulously analyzing the wreckage and black box data. Both enhanced airborne flight recorders (EAFRs) were recovered by June 16, with data successfully downloaded in Delhi. The investigation has ruled out bird strikes and found no significant fuel contamination. However, a 2019 U.S. Federal Aviation Administration bulletin noted issues with fuel switch locking mechanisms on some Boeing 737s, a design shared with the 787. Air India did not inspect these switches, as the alert was advisory, raising questions about whether a similar flaw contributed to the crash.

The crash has prompted Air India to conduct additional maintenance checks on its Boeing 787 fleet, focusing on fuel systems and engine controls. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency also announced plans to investigate Air India Express, the airline’s budget arm, for unrelated maintenance lapses. Meanwhile, the tragedy has renewed calls for cockpit video recorders to complement voice and data recorders, though pilot unions argue this infringes on privacy.

A Nation Mourns

The crash, India’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades, has left a profound impact. The Gujarat government deployed 90 National Disaster Response Force personnel for rescue efforts, while DNA matching identified over 90 victims, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. In London, a multi-faith vigil honored the 53 British victims, with King Charles III requesting a minute of silence at Trooping the Colour. Air India and Boeing have pledged full cooperation with the investigation, expressing condolences to the affected families.

As the AAIB prepares a final report, expected within a year, the mystery of Flight 171 persists. Was it human error, a technical glitch, or an unthinkable act? The cockpit chaos in those final 90 seconds—marked by confusion, a desperate mayday call, and a fleeting chance to recover—continues to haunt the aviation world, demanding answers to prevent future tragedies.