On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad, killing all 260 passengers and crew on board [1, 2]. The London-bound flight was operated by a co-pilot flying while Captain Sumeet Sabharwal monitored during take-off. No evidence has emerged of intentional pilot action in the crash [1].
A preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found that fuel control switches for both engines moved from 'run' to 'cut-off' shortly after take-off, which stopped fuel flow and caused engine failure [1, 2]. Some media reports, citing unnamed sources, suggested cockpit recordings indicated Captain Sabharwal deliberately cut fuel flow. However, the AAIB and pilot associations strongly rejected these claims, calling the reporting selective and unverified [1, 2]. India's Supreme Court confirmed there was no suggestion of fault against Captain Sabharwal in the initial investigation [1]. His father, Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, vowed to defend his son's reputation, saying, "He is no more, but I have to protect his reputation" [1].
The investigation has been delayed beyond its original one-year deadline because a detailed examination of the aircraft's engines is still pending in the United States [2]. The AAIB expects to complete the engine analysis by June 12, 2026, and aims to issue a final report within approximately three months afterward [2]. Around August 2026, the AAIB plans to provide a status update explaining the delay in the final report [2].
The tragedy remains under close scrutiny as authorities await the engine study, which is crucial to conclusively determining the cause of the switches moving to cutoff and the resulting crash.
