An Italian media report triggered intense debate after suggesting that India’s final investigation report into the June 2025 Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad could point to pilot action, even though no such conclusion has been officially confirmed. According to a report published by Corriere della Sera, Indian investigators are preparing to state in the final accident report that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed because one of the pilots moved both engine fuel switches to the cutoff position, an act described by sources cited in the report as “almost certainly intentional.”
Read more:Air India Crash Report: Why Western Media’s Coverage Has Drawn Criticism
The Italian newspaper said it was reporting on what the final probe report may conclude,
citing Western aviation sources familiar with discussions between Indian and US investigators. Those sources claimed that no technical malfunction has been identified that could explain the near-simultaneous loss of power in both engines.
What Italian Report Claims
The report said the crash occurred after both engine fuel switches were moved from “Run” to “Cutoff” shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. Simulator tests conducted in the US reportedly failed to reproduce a scenario in which both engines shut down due to a mechanical fault, leaving human intervention as the only plausible explanation, according to the sources cited.
Read more: ‘Baseless, Defamatory’: Pilots’ Body Slaps Notice On Reuters, WSJ Over Air India Crash Report
A preliminary report released a month after the crash had already confirmed that both engines lost thrust after the fuel switches were moved. However, it did not specify why the switches were moved. The cockpit voice recorder reportedly captured one pilot asking, “Why did you turn off the engines?”, with the other responding, “It wasn’t me.” Attempts to restart the engines were unsuccessful.
According to Corriere della Sera, Western investigators have focused attention on Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was acting as pilot monitoring, while First Officer Clive Kunder was flying the aircraft.
The report claims flight data showed the left engine shut down first, followed by the right- a sequence that aligns with cockpit seating, as the captain sits in the left seat. In the final moments, the first officer’s control column was positioned as if attempting to pitch the aircraft upward, while the captain’s remained neutral.
The newspaper added that enhanced analysis of “cleaned-up” cockpit audio recordings helped investigators determine which pilot moved the switches and ruled out accidental error, according to the sources.
Indian authorities, including the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Civil Aviation Ministry, did not respond to the newspaper’s queries.
Social Media Reactions On Italian Report
The Italian report sparked sharp reactions online, with many users questioning the narrative emerging from foreign media. One user wrote, “WHAT DID I TELL YOU!! They’re going to blame it on pilots, honestly this is such a bullshit report and why would the captain give any input when he’s the pilot monitoring.”
WHAT DID I TELL YOU!! They’re going to blame it on pilots, honestly this is such a bullshit report and why would the captain give any input when he’s the pilot monitoring??? Istg boeing will bury this and dgca run by clowns will come out saying “pilot error” https://t.co/5VUZP74Dba
— Vicks mittayi (@Eranamkettath) February 11, 2026
Another urged caution, writing, “Don’t post for visibility, let the DGCA investigate first.”
Don’t post for visibility, let the DGCA investigate first
— Varun (@varunnn_g) February 11, 2026
Earlier, when similar insinuations surfaced following preliminary findings, the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) had strongly objected to suggestions placing blame on the flight crew of Air India Flight 171. In an official statement, the pilots’ body described the accusations as a “gross violation” and a “disservice to the profession,” warning against speculative narratives, particularly those hinting at pilot suicide.
What Government Said In Parliament
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry addressed questions on the investigation process in the Lok Sabha on December 18, 2025, responding to an unstarred question raised by Congress MP Manish Tewari. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting the probe strictly in accordance with standards laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
On the handling of flight recorders, the minister informed Parliament that the rear Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) was recovered on June 13, 2025, while the front EAFR was recovered on June 16, 2025. Both were transferred to AAIB, Delhi, on June 24, 2025, following all prescribed security protocols.
“The EAFRs are in the custody of AAIB since their retrieval from the crash site and are under constant security and CCTV surveillance,” the government said. Responding to demands for an independent review, the government said AAIB has functioned as an independent body since July 2012, with functional autonomy under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, and therefore no separate review was proposed.
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