A shocking new update has come in the investigation of the Air India plane crash that happened on June 12, 2025. A voice recording from the cockpit may prove that the captain cut off fuel supply during takeoff.
This new detail has changed the direction of the investigation. More than 260 people died in this crash. It is the deadliest air accident in India in the last 10 years.
What Happened on June 12?
The plane was Air India Flight AI171. It was flying from Ahmedabad to London.
It took off in the morning. But just seconds after takeoff, something went wrong. The plane climbed up to about 650 feetand then started going down.
Soon, it crashed into a building near a medical college. The crash killed 241 passengers on the plane and 19 people on the ground. Only one person on board survived.
New Voice Recording Raises Questions
Now, a voice recording from inside the cockpit has been found. It gives a new picture of what happened.
According to the voice, the first officer asked the captain why the fuel switches were moved. The fuel switches were changed from “RUN” to “CUTOFF.” This action stopped the fuel from reaching the engines.
Without fuel, the engines could not work. This caused the plane to lose power and fall.
The first officer also asked the captain to turn the fuel supply back on. But the fuel flow was already stopped.
The recording has not been shared with the public. But US investigators told Reuters that this voice shows the captain may have been the one who made the error.
What Did the Official Report Say?
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) gave a preliminary report on July 12.
That report confirmed that someone in the cockpit moved the fuel switches from “RUN” to “CUTOFF”. But it did not say who did it.
It also said one pilot asked the other why this was done. The reply was a denial. No names were mentioned in the official report.
The two pilots were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. The captain had over 15,600 flying hours. The first officer had about 3,400 flying hours.
US Findings Suggest Pilot Error
Even though the Indian report did not say who made the mistake, US officials are now suggesting that the captain may have been responsible.
This is not confirmed officially yet. But the US investigators are working closely with Indian teams. Their early findings say the fuel supply was likely cut by the captain, not by mistake, but possibly due to misjudgment or confusion.
There is no video from inside the cockpit, so there is no full proof. But many clues, including cockpit voice, technical data, and timing, support this theory.
How Did the Crash Happen?
When the fuel supply was turned off, the plane engines stopped getting power.
Both engines began to shut down. The plane lost its lift. Just a few seconds after takeoff, it started falling.
The ram air turbine came out. This small device provides emergency power when both engines fail. This was seen in CCTV footage from the airport.
Soon after, the pilots tried to restart the engines. They put the switches back to RUN mode. But it was too late.
The plane clipped trees and a chimney before crashing into a building. Many people died on the spot. Fire broke out. Rescue teams arrived quickly, but it was a major disaster.
Questions Still Remain
Why were the fuel switches turned off during takeoff?
That is the biggest question now.
Was it a mistake? Was it confusion? Or was it due to a system issue?
Experts are looking at all possible reasons. But if it was human error, it will be one of the most tragic mistakes in aviation history.
There is also a question about the safety system. Some people ask why there was no lock or alert system to stop such a thing from happening.
About the Plane and Pilots
The plane was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It was not very old and had passed its regular checks.
The pilots were well-trained. The captain had years of flying experience. The first officer was also trained for long international routes.
That’s why this crash is so confusing. Nobody expected such an error from this crew.
But even good pilots can make mistakes under stress.
The Search for Truth Continues
Right now, the crash is still under full investigation.
India’s AAIB, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Boeing are all working together. They are looking at the black box data, voice recordings, and parts of the crashed plane.
The final report may take months to complete. But early signs show that a manual error caused the engines to shut down.
If this is proven true, changes may come in how fuel switches work in future planes.
What Happens Next?
The families of the passengers are in pain. Many want answers. Many want justice.
Air India is also facing big pressure. Questions are being asked about training, checks, and emergency response.
The Indian government has promised full support to the investigation.
Experts say if the report confirms pilot error, changes in cockpit safety rules and training procedures will be needed.
Conclusion
The Air India crash on June 12 is one of the darkest moments in Indian aviation.
More than 260 lives were lost. Families are broken. A city is still in shock.
Now, a simple cockpit action — turning off the fuel — may be the cause of the disaster.
As the investigation continues, the world waits for answers. Mistakes, if any, must be found. And new rules must be made to stop such crashes in the future.
Until then, the only thing we can do is pray for the victims and support their families.