Air India Pilot Suspected Of Intentional Crash, Says Aviation Expert

An explosive new theory has emerged in the investigation into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, with veteran Australian aviation expert Captain Byron Bailey suggesting the disaster may have been a deliberate act by the pilot-in-command.

The crash occurred on June 12, 2015, just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad, when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plunged into a densely populated neighborhood, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. Remarkably, one passenger, British-Indian national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived with minor injuries.

According to a preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the plane’s fuel control switches were manually turned off just three seconds after takeoff, cutting off the engine’s fuel supply and causing an immediate loss of thrust. Although the switches were later turned back on and power was briefly restored to one engine, the aircraft crashed shortly afterward.

In an interview with Sky News Australia, Captain Bailey asserted that the fuel shutoff could only have been intentional. He explained that the mechanical nature of the switches makes accidental activation virtually impossible.

“They’re mechanical,” Bailey said. “They require a conscious physical act to lift, pass a gate, and turn off. The co-pilot, who was flying the aircraft at the time, would have had both hands on the yoke. He couldn’t have done it.”

Black box recordings support this view. Data reveals that the captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, likely turned off the switches. The voice recorder captured a tense exchange between Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who questioned the action as it happened. Sources cited by The Wall Street Journal suggest that Sabharwal’s behavior was premeditated.

Bailey didn’t mince words in his conclusion:

“Suicide by the captain,” he said. “That’s what this looks like.”

The AAIB report did not officially attribute intent or explain how the fuel controls moved to the “cut-off” position, leaving the incident shrouded in ambiguity. However, Sabharwal’s mental health has now entered the spotlight. Reports have surfaced that the 56-year-old pilot had taken medical leave in the past for depression and other psychological issues. These records have since been handed over to investigators.

With more than 15,000 flying hours, Sabharwal was a seasoned pilot, which adds to the chilling weight of the expert claims.

In response to the findings, Air India issued a statement, reaffirming its support for victims’ families and cooperation with investigators:

“Air India continues to mourn the loss of all lives in the crash and remains committed to supporting affected families,” the airline said. “We are working closely with stakeholders and regulators as the investigation progresses.”

Captain Bailey has called for reform in cockpit monitoring, recommending the installation of short-loop video recorders to capture critical moments prior to crashes—something long resisted by some aviation unions.

“The last 30 minutes of a flight should always be captured on camera,” Bailey emphasized. “That could help prevent incidents like this from happening again.”

As the investigation continues, the aviation world is grappling with the unsettling possibility that a trusted pilot may have deliberately taken 260 lives—including his own.