The investigation into the recent Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad has taken a dramatic turn, with a Wall Street Journal report claiming that the captain may have deliberately turned off the aircraft’s fuel control switches, potentially leading to the accident. Citing U.S. aviation officials, the report suggests that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal’s actions are under close examination.
Preliminary data from the cockpit voice recorder and black box reportedly reveals a tense exchange in the cockpit, where First Officer Clive Kundal is heard questioning the switch-off, while another voice denies responsibility. Both pilots are experienced—with Sabharwal logging over 15,600 flight hours and Kundal over 3,400—yet the incident has raised serious questions.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had earlier confirmed that the fuel switches were indeed found in the off position. However, India’s aviation authorities—DGCA, AAIB, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation—have so far remained silent, while Boeing declined to comment, according to Reuters.
India’s pilots’ union has fiercely rejected the U.S. media allegations, calling them an unfair attempt to blame the crew before investigations are complete. Meanwhile, Air India has reassured that no technical defects were found in the fuel switch systems across its Boeing 787 fleet after a thorough inspection.
With investigations ongoing, the spotlight remains on whether the incident was caused by human error or technical failure, as safety experts urge for transparency, accuracy, and restraint in assigning blame.
