Air India Ahmedabad Crash: Pilots’ Body Disputes Suicide Theory, Claims Electrical Failure

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has disputed the official conclusions surrounding the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI 171, asserting that new simulator data indicates a catastrophic system-wide electrical malfunction caused the disaster rather than intentional crew actions.

Official report blamed pilot actions

The government’s preliminary assessment concerning the June 12, 2025 tragedy near Ahmedabad airport, which resulted in the deaths of 260 individuals, asserted that the cockpit crew intentionally isolated the fuel supply to the engines, causing total power degradation immediately following takeoff.

According to that state-issued timeline, the auxiliary backup emergency system—known as the ram air turbine (RAT)—successfully deployed a mere four seconds after the fuel delivery stopped.

Simulator tests raise questions

In response, the professional aviators’ union executed comprehensive simulation trials mirroring the exact weight, balance parameters, and meteorological variables present during the fatal flight.

FIP President Captain C.S. Randhawa stated that the physical data extracted does not align with government timelines, noting that a manual fuel cutoff requires 18 seconds to deploy the backup turbine, making the state’s four-second assertion technically impossible.

The federation maintains that such rapid deployment of the auxiliary turbine proves a massive electrical failure occurred before engine power deteriorated.

This sudden electrical anomaly likely compromised interconnected flight systems, inadvertently tripped engine fuel switches, and precipitated the loss of control.

Furthermore, the pilots’ organization highlighted testimony from the sole survivor of Flight AI 171, who described cabin lighting flickering and dimming right before the aircraft lost altitude.

The association maintains this specific eyewitness testimony directly corroborates an onboard electrical crisis.

Federation questions investigation

The union further alleged that Captain R.S. Sandhu, widely regarded as India’s premier Boeing 787 specialist, was barred from participating in critical phases of the investigation.

Randhawa stated that authorities are disregarding inputs from highly qualified personnel because technical facts invalidate the pilot suicide hypothesis, adding that blaming deceased crew members is simpler than addressing significant software or mechanical defects.

The FIP additionally asserted that this specific hull possessed a documented history of unresolved electrical defects prior to the fatal flight. They alleged that air accident investigators systematically ignored these maintenance logs to focus exclusively on pilot culpability.

Demands for review

The FIP confirmed it has delivered its certified simulator data directly to Boeing and federal civil aviation regulators.

The organization demands that the publication of the final accident report be halted until these engineering discrepancies are resolved. They have further demanded the immediate integration of Captain Sandhu into the inquiry body to preserve investigation integrity.

History of the AI 171 Aircraft and Legal Actions

The controversy surrounding Air India Flight AI 171 occurs amid mounting scrutiny over legacy fleet maintenance and international certification standards. Following the accident, which stands as one of the deadliest aviation occurrences in the region, the FIP escalated the matter to the Supreme Court of India to secure an independent judicial inquiry.

The legal push seeks to mandate a transparent validation exercise utilizing a certified Boeing 787 Level D six-axis simulator monitored by independent international experts. The aircraft’s electrical subsystem history has now become a focal point for aviation safety advocates demanding broader regulatory oversight.

FAQs

What did the preliminary report conclude about the Air India AI 171 crash?

The preliminary report issued by investigators concluded that the flight crew manually cut off the fuel supply to the engines shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, causing a total loss of power.

Why is the Federation of Indian Pilots disputing the official crash timeline?

The federation conducted 10 independent test runs on a certified Boeing 787 Level D simulator, which revealed that deploying the emergency ram air turbine requires 18 seconds, contradicting the 4-second timeline claimed by investigators.

What alternative cause has been proposed for the disaster?

The pilots’ body suggests that a major systemic electrical failure occurred onboard before the engines lost power, pointing to unresolved technical defects in the aircraft’s history and survivor accounts of flickering cabin lights.