AIR INDIA 171 CRASH MYSTERY: Black Box Reveals Co-Pilot Screamed “It Wasn’t Me!” Seconds Before Systems Auto-Switched Fuel Mid-Air — No Manual Override Detected

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad, India, crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff, killing 260 people, including 241 of the 242 passengers and crew onboard and 19 on the ground. The crash, one of the deadliest in Indian aviation history, has taken a perplexing turn with the release of new details from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). According to sources familiar with the investigation, First Officer Clive Kunder, the co-pilot, screamed, “It wasn’t me!” seconds before the aircraft’s fuel control switches inexplicably moved from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” position, with no evidence of manual override detected. This revelation, coupled with the aircraft’s systems auto-switching the fuel supply mid-air, has deepened the mystery surrounding the tragedy and raised questions about potential technical malfunctions, human error, or an unprecedented system failure.

The Final Moments of Flight 171

Air India Flight 171 took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:37 IST (08:07 UTC) under clear weather conditions. The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a 56-year-old veteran with 15,638 flight hours, including 8,596 on the Boeing 787, and First Officer Clive Kunder, aged 32, with 3,403 hours, including 1,128 on the Dreamliner. Kunder was the pilot flying, while Sabharwal monitored the flight. The aircraft reached a takeoff speed of 155 knots (287 km/h) and climbed to approximately 3,240 feet above ground level when, at 13:38:42 IST, both engine fuel cutoff switches transitioned to “CUTOFF” within one second of each other, starving the engines of fuel.

The CVR, recovered from the wreckage, captured a critical exchange. As the engines began to lose power, Kunder reportedly asked, “Why did you cut off?” to which Sabharwal replied, “I didn’t.” Seconds later, as the aircraft’s systems registered the fuel cutoff, Kunder’s voice was recorded screaming, “It wasn’t me!” This outburst coincided with data from the flight data recorder (FDR) indicating that the fuel control switches had moved without manual intervention, and no manual override was detected by the aircraft’s systems. The switches were returned to the “RUN” position within 10 seconds, triggering an automatic engine relight sequence, but only Engine 1 began to regain thrust, while Engine 2 failed to recover in time. A desperate “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” call was issued at 13:39:05 IST, but the aircraft crashed into the hostel complex of B.J. Medical College at 13:39:11 IST, igniting a fireball that left only one survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.

The Auto-Switching Anomaly

The revelation that the fuel control switches moved to “CUTOFF” without manual override has stunned investigators and aviation experts. The Boeing 787’s fuel control switches, located on the center console between the pilots, are equipped with locking mechanisms requiring a deliberate upward pull before movement, as well as protective guard brackets to prevent accidental activation. Shawn Pruchnicki, a former airline accident investigator at Ohio State University, noted, “It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with a single movement of one hand, and this makes accidental deployment unlikely.” Yet, the FDR data suggests an “uncommanded transition,” a term used in a report by the Indian Express to describe a potential automated or erroneous system action.

This anomaly echoes a 2019 incident involving an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787, where one engine’s fuel switch moved to “CUTOFF” mid-flight due to a software misinterpretation that the aircraft was on the ground, triggering the thrust control malfunction accommodation system. Mary Schiavo, a former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, emphasized that a similar malfunction cannot be ruled out in the Air India crash, urging the release of the full CVR transcript to clarify the context of the pilots’ statements. The 2018 FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) highlighted that some Boeing 737 fuel control switches, which share a design with the 787, were installed with disengaged locking mechanisms. Air India did not conduct the recommended inspections, as they were not mandatory. However, maintenance records show the throttle control module on VT-ANB was replaced in 2019 and 2023 for unrelated issues, with no defects reported in the fuel switches since.

Pilot Confusion and Human Factors

The CVR’s depiction of confusion in the cockpit—Kunder’s question, Sabharwal’s denial, and Kunder’s subsequent exclamation—suggests the pilots were caught off guard by the fuel cutoff. Sources cited by The Wall Street Journal indicate that investigators believe Sabharwal, as the monitoring pilot, may have been near the switches, but his response, “I didn’t,” and Kunder’s “It wasn’t me!” imply neither pilot intentionally moved them. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has criticized media reports suggesting pilot error, with FIP president Charanvir Singh Randhawa stating, “The report nowhere states that the pilots moved the fuel control switches.”

Aviation safety expert John Cox told Reuters that moving the switches during flight is highly unusual, as they are typically used only after landing or in emergencies like an engine fire, which was not indicated in this case. The absence of manual override detection raises the possibility of a system error, but human factors cannot be ruled out. A senior pilot cited by The Guardian noted that fuel switch operation is part of routine post-landing procedures, potentially leading to “muscle memory” errors under stress, though this seems unlikely given the pilots’ experience and the brief window after takeoff.

Investigation Challenges and Public Reaction

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), supported by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing, is examining the aircraft’s systems, maintenance records, and the pilots’ psycho-physical states. The preliminary report, released on July 11, 2025, found no mechanical or maintenance faults, and fuel samples were deemed satisfactory. The investigation is now focusing on whether an “uncommanded transition” of the fuel switches could have resulted from a software or hardware glitch. The AAIB has not yet “speaker-stamped” the CVR to confirm which pilot made each statement, and a full transcript is yet to be released.

Families of the victims have expressed frustration with the preliminary report’s ambiguity. Sameer Rafik, whose cousin died in the crash, told the BBC, “The report mentions the pilots discussing who turned off fuel and a possible issue with the fuel control switch. We don’t know what that means? Was it avoidable?” The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association and the Airline Pilots’ Association of India have condemned speculation about pilot error, particularly suggestions of intentional acts, as “reckless and unfounded.”

Implications for Aviation Safety

The crash has prompted India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to mandate inspections of fuel control switches on all Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft in the country, with a deadline of July 21, 2025. Air India’s inspections of its 787 fleet found no issues with the locking mechanisms. The incident has also renewed calls for cockpit video recorders, which could clarify pilot actions, though pilot unions like the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) oppose them due to privacy concerns.

The possibility of an automated system error, as suggested by the lack of manual override detection, raises concerns about the Boeing 787’s fly-by-wire systems and software. The 2019 All Nippon Airways incident underscores the potential for software to misinterpret flight conditions, though no such issue had been reported for VT-ANB. If a systemic flaw is identified, it could have implications for the global 787 fleet, which numbers over 1,100 aircraft.

Awaiting Answers

The AAIB’s final report, expected within a year, will integrate data from the CVR, FDR, and forensic analysis to determine whether the fuel cutoff resulted from a technical malfunction, human error, or an unknown factor. The haunting words of First Officer Kunder—“It wasn’t me!”—and the absence of manual override detection point to a complex and unprecedented scenario. As investigators work to unravel the mystery, the aviation industry and grieving families await answers to ensure such a tragedy is not repeated.