India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has confirmed that the investigation into the fatal Air India Flight AI171 crash has not yet reached a final conclusion, though it is “ongoing” and a report will be released “upon its completion”.
The preliminary report issued last year identified that, just moments after take‑off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, the fuel‑control switches suddenly moved to the cut‑off position, starving the engines of fuel and causing total power loss. Audio from the cockpit captured a pilot questioning the other about the action, but the recordings did not disclose which pilot made the statements.
Following the release of this preliminary data, outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported that evidence now points to the senior pilot, Capt Sabharwal, having deliberately cut the fuel flow. Those claims have sparked strong criticism from Indian pilot associations, who denounced the coverage, and the AAIB, which stated that no conclusion can yet be drawn.
The investigation continues to focus on detailed examinations of aircraft systems, flight recorder data, engine components, maintenance logs and operational procedures. While significant progress has been made—especially in the analysis of the aircraft’s systems—the exact cause remains undetermined and a final verdict will not be issued until the full investigation is complete.
