Air India Plane Crash Report: Expert Suggests Deliberate Action by Pilot in Flight AI171 Tragedy. Air India Flight 171 crash may have been caused by pilot action, says expert. Learn what cockpit audio and flight data reveal in this developing story.
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Introduction: A Shocking Theory Emerges air india plane crash report
In a stunning development following the fatal Air India Flight 171 crash, Captain Mohan Ranganathan, one of India’s top aviation safety experts, has claimed that the tragedy may have been a result of deliberate human action. According to the preliminary AAIB report, critical fuel control switches were manually turned off, raising alarming questions about the cause of the crash that killed 241 people onboard and 19 on the ground on June 12, 2025.
Crash Overview: What Happened to Air India Flight 171?
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London Gatwick. Just 32 seconds after takeoff, the aircraft lost thrust in both engines and crashed into a nearby medical hostel.
Flight data from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) and cockpit voice recordings (CVR) show the rapid sequence of events leading to the crash. Shockingly, only one person survived — a passenger seated in 11A.
Pilot-Induced Crash? The Evidence So Far
Captain Ranganathan argues that the fuel control switches for both engines were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second of each other — a process that cannot happen accidentally.
“It has to be manually done… The fuel selectors are guarded, and require deliberate pulling and shifting. This wasn’t turbulence or a system glitch,” he said in an interview with NDTV.
The CVR audio also reveals a chilling exchange:
- One pilot says: “Why did you do it?”
- The other replies: “I did not do it.”
Ranganathan believes this exchange, coupled with technical analysis, strongly suggests intentional action — a rare but not unprecedented case of pilot suicide.
Medical History and Red Flags
Sources from within Air India reportedly indicated that the captain had a medical history and had been on extended medical leave before the crash. The AAIB report confirms that both pilots were medically cleared, but Captain Ranganathan calls for psychological evaluations, not just physical fitness.
“We don’t track pilot mental health in India seriously,” he said. “This needs urgent reform.”
Similar Tragedies Worldwide: Global Precedents
Such incidents have occurred before:
- Germanwings Flight 9525 (2015) – Co-pilot deliberately crashed the plane into the Alps.
- EgyptAir Flight 990 (1999) – Suspected suicide by co-pilot.
- SilkAir Flight 185 (1997) – Pilot suspected of crashing due to personal issues.
- Malaysia Airlines MH370 – Still missing, widely suspected to be pilot-induced.
These crashes share disturbing similarities with AI171, strengthening the case for a global mental health oversight reform in aviation.
Systemic Failures: What India Must Learn
Captain Ranganathan sharply criticized:
- DGCA and other regulators for not monitoring mental health.
- Airlines for pushing pilots beyond limits, leading to fatigue and psychological stress.
- The system for treating pilots as machines and prioritizing commercial schedules over well-being.
Civil Aviation Minister Urges Caution
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu responded cautiously to the preliminary findings:
“Let us not jump into conclusions. These are early reports. We respect our pilots and the work they do. Let’s wait for the final AAIB report,” he said.
Mental Health Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health:
- Vandrevala Foundation: 9999666555 / help@vandrevalafoundation.com
- TISS iCall: 022-25521111 (Mon–Sat, 8 AM–10 PM)
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for the Aviation Industry
Whether or not the Air India Flight 171 crash was intentional, this tragic event has sparked urgent discussions around pilot mental health, regulatory oversight, and aviation safety.
As the world awaits the final AAIB report, this incident should serve as a turning point for India’s civil aviation system to implement mental health screening protocols and improve support systems for the country’s hardworking pilots.