'All Mechanical, Technical Aspects Under Probe': Aviation Sources Amid Air India Crash Report Row

Last Updated:July 17, 2025, 10:48 IST

Aviation sources say while fuel switches in modern aircraft cannot move without human intervention, investigators are probing any possible malfunction that moved the fuel switch.

The Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. (File image: PTI)

As the controversy deepens around the preliminary probe report on the crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, aviation sources have confirmed that all mechanical and technical aspects are being thoroughly investigated, including a possible fuel valve malfunction. Aviation sources say that while fuel switches in modern aircraft cannot move without human intervention, investigators are probing whether a technical or mechanical fault may have triggered malfunctioning of the fuel switch.

One clue under examination is the error “STAB POS XDCR" that was noted by pilots after the Delhi–Ahmedabad leg of the flight, say sources. This refers to a stabiliser position transducer defect, which could affect how the aircraft senses the position of its nose. While unrelated to the fuel switch directly, sources say it is being assessed whether such a sensor issue could have interfered with other onboard systems, including those linked to fuel management.

Aviation professionals highlight that today’s aircraft are fully computerised, and key systems like Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) and Thrust Control Malfunction Accommodation (TCMA) are capable of overriding pilot commands in case of anomalies. These technologies are now central to the investigation into whether automation errors contributed to fuel shutoff.

How A WSJ Report Sparked Row Over AI Crash

The probe gained public attention after a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report claimed that a senior pilot may have accidentally cut off fuel supply to both engines, leading to the crash. The article, citing anonymous officials familiar with the matter, alleged that the pilot’s action was not in response to an emergency — a move described as “inexplicable" by observers quoted in the report.

Another report by the WSJ now puts the blame on the senior pilot. It says the cockpit recording between the two pilots indicates that the flow of fuel to the plane’s engines was cut by the captain of the flight. This came even as the preliminary probe report hasn’t established the fault of the pilots, or underlined if the fuel switch control was the cause of the crash.

The first officer, who was flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, asked the more experienced captain why he moved the fuel switches to the “cutoff" position seconds after lifting off the runway, the report said.

The first officer expressed surprise and then panicked, while the captain seemed to remain calm, it added.

What the AAIB report said

The preliminary report published by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and put out in the public domain by the government had mentioned the brief exchange between the two pilots moments before the plane crash. The interaction was regarding the “transition" of the fuel control switches that allow and cut the supply of fuel to the engines. “In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut-off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report said.

What Pilot Body Said

However, this version has been strongly challenged by the pilot community. The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) has dismissed the claims, with its chief, Captain SP Varma, calling the report “laughable" and premature. He argued that cutting off fuel is standard operating procedure during engine fires or confirmed failures, but not during normal operations.

“Speculation without data from the cockpit voice and flight data recorders is irresponsible," Varma stated.

As investigations continue, officials remain cautious in drawing conclusions.

The Air India plane crash on June 12 left 241 people on board the plane dead while one passenger survived. The crash also led to casualties on the ground.

Arunima

Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ...Read More

Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ...

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