Air India Flight 171 Crash: Blackbox Reveals First Officer Panicked, Captain Stayed Calm

Air India Flight 171 Crash: In a chilling revelation, new details have emerged about the final moments before Air India Flight 171 tragically crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff on June 12. The Ahmedabad-to-London flight, operated by Air India, went down due to a critical loss of lift, and now, a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report citing the cockpit voice recorder (blackbox) offers an unprecedented look into what went wrong in the flight deck.

Blackbox Audio Sheds Light on Pilot Interaction

According to the WSJ report, which references U.S. investigative sources, the cockpit audio recording reveals a tense exchange between Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. Just moments before the crash, First Officer Kunder can be heard questioning Captain Sabharwal, seemingly surprised and alarmed:

“Why did you move the switches to cutoff?” asked Kunder, his voice increasingly panicked.

The “cutoff” switches in question refer to two crucial fuel switches in the cockpit. When moved to the cutoff position, these switches essentially stop fuel supply to the engines, cutting off thrust and lift — a fatal move just after takeoff.

Captain Maintains Composure Amid Crisis

While the first officer appeared to panic in the critical moments, Captain Sabharwal remained calm, the report reveals. His composed demeanor contrasts sharply with the anxious questioning of the first officer. The preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released last week, had alluded to confusion in the cockpit but did not name which pilot said what.

The AAIB stated in its initial findings:

“One of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off,” but the identities weren’t clarified in the official report.

Now, with new evidence from the blackbox recording, WSJ confirms that it was indeed First Officer Clive Kunder who raised the concern, and the voice of Captain Sabharwal did not indicate any panic.

Fuel Switches Accidentally Set to Cutoff

The AAIB report confirmed that the two fuel switches were moved to “cutoff” shortly after takeoff — a move that caused the aircraft to lose all lift and power. The airplane crashed less than a minute later. However, the bigger mystery surrounds how and why those switches were flipped.

Both pilots, in the voice recording, deny responsibility. As per the AAIB’s findings:

“The other pilot responded that he did not do so.”

This contradiction has prompted serious concern among investigators, especially since cockpit protocols are designed to prevent such mistakes.

Criminal Review Under Consideration

Given the gravity of the incident and the new details emerging from the cockpit voice recorder, U.S. authorities are now reportedly considering a criminal investigation. Some officials believe that the evidence may point to human error or negligence, which could warrant legal scrutiny.

While no official charges have been filed, the WSJ report mentions that certain U.S. agencies believe the case is serious enough to warrant deeper investigation beyond standard aviation protocol reviews.

What Comes Next?

The crash of Air India Flight 171 remains under active investigation by both Indian and U.S. authorities. The AAIB is expected to release a more detailed final report in the coming weeks, which could include simulation replays, crew history, mechanical assessments, and a full breakdown of voice and flight data recordings.

As families of the victims continue to wait for answers, the focus remains on transparency, accountability, and implementing stricter safety protocols to prevent such tragedies from repeating.

The tragic loss of Air India Flight 171 continues to haunt the aviation industry and the nation. As investigators piece together the cockpit dialogue and technical data, the emerging picture is one of confusion, panic, and potentially fatal miscommunication. With criminal inquiries now being considered, the story of Flight 171 could reshape how aviation errors are investigated and prosecuted in the future.

Stay tuned for further updates as more facts unfold in this ongoing investigation.