The June 2025 crash of Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 departing from Ahmedabad (AMD), killed all 260 people on board. The incident remains shrouded in mystery, with early evidence suggesting a deliberate act: preliminary reports indicated that fuel control switches were manually shut off shortly after takeoff. Months later, the investigation has stalled, and tensions between US and Indian authorities are escalating, raising fears of a potential cover-up.
Deepening Conflicts in the Investigation
The investigation is officially led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with support from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). However, behind the scenes, disagreements have become severe, as the NTSB reportedly suspects the AAIB of obstructing the truth.
US investigators fear that Indian authorities are deliberately ignoring evidence to protect the reputation of the airline or avoid accountability. The NTSB believes that evidence points to the captain intentionally shutting off the engines, with no attempt to salvage the flight. This claim is met with resistance from India, where courts have dismissed suggestions of pilot error as “nasty reporting.”
Accusations and Obstruction of Evidence
The Wall Street Journal has revealed a series of concerning incidents:
- The head of the AAIB reportedly told NTSB officials that India was “not a third world country” and capable of conducting an investigation independently.
- US investigators were barred from photographing wreckage, some of which was moved before examination.
- India initially insisted on analyzing black box data in a remote location to avoid scrutiny, forcing US officials to intervene to ensure proper handling in Delhi or Washington.
- US State Department officials had to intercept NTSB investigators at the airport to prevent them from boarding a military flight to a restricted area arranged by Indian officials.
- The AAIB allegedly slowed down the investigation by conducting it sequentially, rather than adopting a broader, faster review approach.
Cockpit Voice Recorder: Key Evidence Missing
The cockpit voice recorder captured critical moments: fuel cutoff switches were turned off one after another, with only a one-second gap between them. The first officer questioned why the engines were shut down, but the captain denied responsibility. The first officer attempted to pull up the aircraft, while the captain remained unresponsive.
Indian authorities claim an unprecedented mechanical failure caused the fuel to shut off without pilot intervention. The crucial piece of evidence missing is whether the sound of the switches being moved was recorded – a loud, distinct sound that would confirm manual operation.
A Political Investigation?
The investigation is increasingly viewed as political theater, with India’s supreme court intervening at the request of the captain’s family and pilot unions. Only limited information from the cockpit voice recorder has been released, further fueling speculation.
Ultimately, the integrity of aviation safety depends on impartial investigations. The current handling of the Air India crash risks undermining trust in the process, potentially setting a dangerous precedent.
The investigation into Air India Flight AI171 remains deeply contentious, with conflicting narratives and obstructed evidence. If this case is allowed to drift toward a political resolution rather than a transparent, fact-based inquiry, it could have severe consequences for the future of air travel safety.
