Ahmedabad : Investigators probing last year’s crash of Air India flight 171 in Ahmedabad have concluded that the disaster was not caused by a technical defect but was the result of an “intentional act”, Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported, citing two sources familiar with the recent discussions between New Delhi and Washington.
Indian investigators have determined that the June 2025 crash, after fuel cut-off to the engine, was not triggered by a mechanical failure but by deliberate action, and officials are now preparing to draft their final report. US experts assisting in the probe have described the findings as “a breakthrough”, the newspaper added. A total of 260 people were killed in the disaster, including passengers and individuals inside a medical students’ hostel on which the aircraft fell. Only one passenger survived.
A preliminary report released in July 2025 by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) mentioned the final cockpit exchange regarding one pilot allegedly switching off the fuel control. In the cockpit voice recording, one pilot was heard asking, “Why did you cut off (the fuel)?” The other replied, “I did not do so.” The Italian newspaper reiterated this account, claiming investigators now believe that one of the pilots switched off the engine fuel control switches, causing the aircraft to lose power and plunge to the ground.
Following the AAIB’s preliminary findings — which also sparked protests from pilots’ associations — Sabharwal’s father rejected the allegations, demanded a fresh probe, and dismissed speculation about his son’s mental health. He refuted suggestions that personal issues, including reports of a divorce, had led to anxiety or depression. In the weeks after the crash, multiple theories were floated, ranging from technical malfunction to human error. Over time, investigators narrowed their focus to the fuel control switches in the cockpit.
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