‘One of the pilots committed suicide and…’: Shocking claim by aviation expert on Air India 171 crash

New Delhi: The investigation into the Air India plane crash that took place on June 12 soon after takeoff in Ahmedabad has suggested that there might have mechanical or power supply issues that could have led to the change in the position of the switches that feed fuel into the plane, experts said on Saturday, 12 July 2025. They also said that the reasons for the change in fuel switch position will be known during further investigations.

What did AAIB report say?

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) shared its first report on the Air India Flight 171 crash just after midnight on Saturday, 12 July 2025. The report includes a chilling recording from the cockpit, where one pilot suddenly realizes that fuel to both engines had been cut off during take-off. He questions the other pilot, who replies that he didn’t do it.

This report comes one month after the terrible crash, which killed 260 people—241 on board and 19 on the ground. The 15-page report gives us the first clear look into what happened in the final moments of the flight. It also raises new questions about why both engines lost fuel at the same time.

At one point in the cockpit voice recording, one pilot is heard saying, “Why did you cutoff?” The other responds, “I did not do so.” This exchange shows that the fuel supply was turned off, but no one in the cockpit claims to have done it.

What does aviation expert say?

However, aviation expert Melissa Chen has made a startling claim as she posted on X: “Holy shit. The preliminary report of the Air India 171 crash shows that both fuel cutoff switches were moved from “run” to “cutoff.” These switches are designed so that they cannot be moved inadvertently – the knob has to be pulled away from the panel before the switch can be moved. Either one or both of the pilots is a complete moron, or one of them committed suicide and took everyone with him.”

Melissa also shared a picture of the switches for reference.

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