Air India Crash Mystery: 5 Shocking Revelations Behind the Haunting Cockpit Confusion

A preliminary report on the Air India 787 crash that killed 260 people reveals a cockpit consumed by confusion in its final moments. Both engine fuel cutoff switches inexplicably moved to “CUTOFF” nearly simultaneously just after takeoff from Ahmedabad, starving the engines despite no emergency requiring it. Recordings capture one pilot asking the other why he cut the fuel, only to receive a denial – “I did not do so” – leaving the critical question of who moved them or how it happened unanswered.

Experts emphasize these switches require deliberate force, making accidental movement virtually impossible, yet both were later found back in the “RUN” position at the crash site. The highly experienced crew, facing sudden, catastrophic power loss, transmitted a final “Mayday” before impact. This profound disconnect between switch movement and pilot awareness presents an agonizing technical and human puzzle for investigators, overshadowing memorials for the victims and challenging Air India’s recovery efforts.

The global aviation community now awaits the full investigation to unravel how such a definitive action occurred without either pilot’s apparent knowledge or intent during a critical flight phase.

Air India Crash Mystery: 5 Shocking Revelations Behind the Haunting Cockpit Confusion

The preliminary report on Air India’s catastrophic Boeing 787 crash, which claimed 260 lives last month, paints a picture not of clear mechanical failure, but of profound human confusion in the final, desperate moments before impact. At the heart of the tragedy lies an agonizing enigma: why did both engine fuel cutoff switches move almost simultaneously just after takeoff, and why were the pilots unaware of who moved them? 

The Sequence of Disaster: 

• Liftoff from Ahmedabad: The Dreamliner, bound for London, departed normally. 

• The Critical Flip: Almost immediately after becoming airborne, both engine fuel cutoff switches flipped from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within a second of each other. This action starves the engines of fuel, effectively shutting them down. 

• Loss of Power: Closed-circuit TV footage confirmed the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency backup power source activated only when main engine power is lost. 

• The Cockpit Exchange: The chilling cockpit voice recording captures the unfolding horror: 

• One pilot asks the other: “Why did you cut off the fuel?” 

• The other pilot responds: “I did not do so.” 

• Mayday and Impact: A “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” call was transmitted just before the aircraft, losing thrust and altitude, crashed into a building near Ahmedabad airport. 

The Central, Unanswered Questions: 

• How did the switches move? The report explicitly states it found no indication of any emergency (like an engine fire) that would warrant a pilot intentionally cutting off fuel during takeoff climb. Aviation experts emphasize these switches are designed to require deliberate action and are virtually impossible to move accidentally. 

• Who moved them? The pilots’ recorded exchange reveals mutual denial and confusion. With 56-year-old Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (15,638 flight hours, an instructor) and 32-year-old First Officer Clive Kunder (3,403 hours) both highly experienced, the mystery deepens. The report doesn’t attribute the question or the denial to a specific pilot. 

• Why were they found in “RUN”? Investigators found both switches back in the “RUN” position at the crash site, with evidence suggesting the engines may have attempted to relight just before impact. This adds another layer of complexity – did someone try to restart them? 

The Human and Operational Impact: 

This crash is more than a technical puzzle; it’s a profound human tragedy. The report’s release coincided with emotional memorials in Mumbai, where grieving families, including First Officer Kunder’s father (who declined comment), gathered. It also strikes at the core of Tata Group’s ambitious, high-stakes effort to rebuild Air India‘s reputation and modernize its fleet after taking over the carrier. 

The Path Forward: 

The preliminary report, mandated within 30 days by international rules, raises critical questions but provides no definitive answers. It explicitly states no immediate safety recommendations for Boeing 787 operators or engine manufacturer GE. The focus now intensifies on the ongoing investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), supported by the NTSB and FAA: 

• Detailed Switch Analysis: Scrutinizing the switch mechanisms, wiring, and potential for malfunction or unintended interference is paramount. 

• Crew Workload & Procedures: Examining cockpit procedures, communication patterns, and potential distractions during the critical takeoff phase. 

• Black Box Deep Dive: Further analysis of the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder beyond the initial transcript snippets. 

• Simulation & Testing: Recreating the scenario to understand switch movement possibilities and pilot reactions. 

The Haunting Insight: 

The real value of this report lies not in solutions, but in framing the agonizing human drama at the center of a complex technical failure. The pilots’ final exchange – a question of blame met with a denial of action – echoes far beyond the cockpit. It underscores the terrifying vulnerability when sophisticated systems behave inexplicably, leaving even the most experienced professionals bewildered in the face of catastrophe.

The world now waits, not just for technical answers about switch mechanics, but for an understanding of how such profound confusion could arise at 650 feet, with 260 lives hanging in the balance. The final report, expected within a year, carries the immense burden of providing clarity and, hopefully, preventing such a haunting mystery from ever repeating.