AAIB Report Reveals Co-Pilot Was Flying Air India 171, Not The Captain: Why That Matters

Last Updated:July 12, 2025, 10:54 IST

That the co-pilot was flying and the captain was overseeing may be routine, but when both engines failed seconds after take-off, that detail becomes central to the investigation

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was being operated by a two-member cockpit crew. (File)

The preliminary 15-page report of the investigation into the Air India flight AI171 crash was made public by the government on Saturday, offering the first official reconstruction of the fatal accident that killed 241 people on board. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner went down seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, crashing into the hostel mess facility of BJ Medical College.

Among the details disclosed in the report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is a key operational fact: at the time of the crash, it was the co-pilot who was flying the aircraft, while the captain was in a supervisory role. This division of responsibilities, known in aviation as Pilot Flying (PF) and Pilot Monitoring (PM), is standard; one pilot flies, the other monitors. But in this case, it is important because it gives investigators insight into how the crew reacted during those crucial few seconds.

Who Was Flying The Plane When It Crashed?

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was being operated by a two-member cockpit crew. According to the report, the 32-year-old co-pilot was assigned as the Pilot Flying (PF) — meaning he was at the controls during taxi, take-off, and the initial climb. The 56-year-old captain, a highly experienced flyer, was acting as Pilot Monitoring (PM), responsible for overseeing flight systems, radio communication, and assisting the PF if needed.

This setup is standard. Airlines routinely allow either the captain or co-pilot to fly the plane, depending on schedules, training needs, or accumulated flying hours. In this case, both pilots were medically fit, fully licensed, and had adequate rest before the flight. Their roles were in line with approved procedures.

What Was Their Experience?

While the co-pilot wasn’t new to the aircraft, he was relatively early in his career. He had flown over 1,100 hours on the Boeing 787, and more than 3,400 hours in total. This may have been one of his first few long-haul international flights as the pilot in command of the controls.

The captain, on the other hand, was among the most senior in Air India’s long-haul operations, with over 15,600 hours of flying time, including more than 8,200 hours as commander of a B787. He was not flying the plane at the time of the accident, but was supervising the take-off, which is a critical phase of flight.

What Happened In The Final Seconds?

Flight AI171 took off from Runway 23 in Ahmedabad at 08:08:39 UTC (13:38 IST). Everything appeared normal. As per the flight data, the aircraft reached a maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots within a few seconds.

But just three seconds after take-off, something went terribly wrong. Both engines shut down, one after the other, after their fuel control switches were somehow moved from “RUN" to “CUTOFF." This meant both engines immediately lost thrust while the plane was still low and climbing.

The loss of power triggered emergency systems. Airport CCTV showed the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deploying, consistent with a loss of primary power sources.

In the cockpit, the voice recorder picked up a brief moment of confusion. One pilot asked the other: “Why did you cutoff?" The reply came: “I did not."

Both pilots immediately tried to recover. They switched the fuel controls back to RUN and attempted to restart the engines. The plane’s Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) began its automatic start-up. One engine showed signs of recovering, but the second failed to stabilise. By then, the plane had already begun losing altitude rapidly.

At 08:09:05 UTC (13:39:05 IST), one of the pilots sent out a “MAYDAY" call. Just seconds later, the plane crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel complex, approximately 0.9 nautical miles from the runway. 241 on board — 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and both pilots — were killed. One passenger survived with serious injuries.

Why The Co-Pilot’s Role Matters In The Investigation

Establishing who was flying the aircraft helps investigators reconstruct the sequence of actions inside the cockpit during the emergency. This includes understanding how the aircraft was being handled, how quickly the crew recognised the emergency, and what measures were taken in response.

The fact that both pilots seemed surprised that the engines were cut off is especially unusual. These fuel switches aren’t meant to move easily. Investigators are now trying to determine whether the action was a mechanical fault, accidental movement, or something else entirely.

What’s Next

The investigation is still ongoing. As data from the flight recorder is further analysed and more evidence is collected, this detail will help establish how the crew coordinated, how fast the situation escalated, and whether any cockpit actions contributed to the shutdown or delayed recovery.

That the co-pilot was flying and the captain was overseeing may not be unusual. But in a high-pressure moment where both engines stop working mid-air, it becomes a detail worth examining.

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...Read More

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

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