Did the Pilot Really Shut Off the Fuel Mid-Air? Ahmedabad Air India Crash Mystery Sparks Global Speculation!
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The tragic Ahmedabad air crash involving Air India Flight 171 has taken a controversial turn after a foreign media report claimed the pilot deliberately shut off the aircraft’s fuel supply.
The sensational allegation was published by The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials. According to the report, the senior captain denied responsibility during the cockpit exchange, while the first officer appeared shocked and confused. However, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has strongly dismissed the claim, calling it “irresponsible and factually incorrect.”
AAIB’s preliminary findings stated only that one pilot asked the other if the fuel switch had been turned off, to which the other clearly denied doing so. Condemning the speculative reports, AAIB said, “Such stories show insensitivity towards a sensitive matter involving victims and their families. The preliminary report is meant only to outline what happened, not to conclude why it happened.”
The agency emphasized that the true cause of the crash will be revealed only after a full investigation, which is still underway with no fixed timeline for completion. The mystery around the crash remains unsolved, and AAIB urged media outlets to avoid premature conclusions that could mislead the public.