Air India Crash: Probe Focuses on Boeing Jet's Fuel Switches

Air India Crash: Probe Focuses on Boeing Jet's Fuel Switches
Above: The crash site of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on June 13, 2025. Image copyright: Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

The focus on fuel control switches suggests potential human error or deliberate action in the cockpit. These switches are specifically designed with safety guards to prevent accidental activation, making any movement highly suspicious. The immediate loss of engine power from switch manipulation would explain the aircraft's sudden inability to maintain altitude after takeoff.

Narrative B

Mechanical failure remains a possibility despite current findings, as multiple contributing factors often cause most aviation disasters. Failing to account for the potential for equipment malfunction during the investigation could lead to significant oversights. Additionally, Boeing's participation in simulations and the absence of safety bulletins do not definitively rule out potential design or manufacturing issues.



The Controversies