Air India crash 'intentional act,' not technical defect: Report
What's the story
Investigators probing the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad have reportedly concluded that the incident was an "intentional act" and not a technical defect. The Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported this, citing sources familiar with discussions between New Delhi and Washington. However, an official report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is awaited. The aircraft, a Boeing Dreamliner 787, took off from Ahmedabad airport but crashed seconds after takeoff on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people.
Incident overview
Only one survived crash
Only one passenger survived. A preliminary report released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in July mentioned a cockpit exchange about switching off fuel control. The cockpit voice recording revealed a conversation where one pilot asked, "Why did you cut off (the fuel)?" to which the other replied, "I did not do so. The Italian report reiterated this account, saying that investigators now believe that one of the pilots turned off the switches that control the engine's fuel.
Report
Officials preparing to draft their final report
The Italian report suggested that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was the main suspect in the crash, "who, as emerged a month after the crash, suffered from depression." According to the report, officials are now preparing to draft their final report. The results have been regarded as "a breakthrough" by US experts assisting in the investigation, according to the newspaper. The final investigation report is also expected to recommend continuous psychological evaluation and mental health monitoring of pilots, the latest report suggested.
Future measures
Both engines were found switched off
In the weeks after the crash, various theories were considered, but investigators eventually focused on cockpit fuel control switches. A preliminary technical assessment based on black box data ruled out mechanical failure and pointed to manual movement of engine ignition/shutdown switches. Both engines were found switched off at the time of the crash.
Investigation progress
Supreme Court seeks probe status report within three weeks
After the AAIB's preliminary report, Captain Sabharwal's elderly father moved the Supreme Court, seeking the constitution of a panel for a judicially monitored probe. During an earlier hearing, the court told Pushkaraj Sabharwal, "It is extremely unfortunate that this crash took place, but you...should not carry this burden that your son is being blamed....No one in India believes it is the pilot's fault." The court has directed the Centre and DGCA to submit a detailed status report within three weeks.