Air India 171’s Deadly Riddle! 😱 Did a pilot’s mistake or a secret system flaw doom 260 lives? The chilling cockpit audio fuels a mystery no one can solve—yet! 🤔 Uncover the shocking truth behind this tragedy! 👉
The crash of Air India Flight 171 on June 12, 2025, which claimed 260 lives just 32 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, remains shrouded in mystery. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick, plummeted into a residential area, killing 241 of 242 onboard and 19 on the ground, marking India’s deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade (Wikipedia,). A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released July 12, 2025, revealed that both engine fuel cutoff switches moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” at 08:08:42 UTC, starving the engines and triggering a catastrophic descent (The Guardian,). Cockpit audio captures one pilot’s confusion—“Why did you cut off?”—met with a denial, “I didn’t,” deepening the debate over whether human error or a systemic failure, possibly in the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system, sealed the flight’s fate (Hindustan Times,). Social media speculation, like X posts from @eshwar_n, fuels theories of a “systemic betrayal” in FADEC’s code (X,). This analysis dissects these competing narratives, the evidence, and the broader implications for aviation safety, echoing the sensationalized dynamics seen in controversies like Rachel Zegler’s backlash.
The AAIB’s findings point to a perplexing sequence. At 180 knots, seconds after takeoff, both fuel switches flipped to “CUTOFF,” shutting down the engines within one second (BBC,). The pilots, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, restored the switches to “RUN” within 10–14 seconds, activating FADEC’s relight sequence, but only Engine 1 began recovering before the plane crashed into a medical college hostel (Wikipedia,). The deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup power source, indicates a total power loss, as does the unretracted landing gear (BBC,). The cockpit audio, with one pilot’s bewildered question, suggests no intentional act, challenging early speculation of pilot error (Hindustan Times,). The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) denounced the report’s insinuation of human error as “reckless,” arguing it lacked evidence and ignored systemic issues (Al Jazeera,).
The FADEC theory, popularized on X by users like @Grippan65Momi, posits that a glitch in the Weight-on-Wheels (WoW) sensor misled the system into believing the plane was grounded, triggering an automatic fuel cutoff (X,). A similar 2019 All Nippon Airways 787 incident saw FADEC misread sensor data, reducing thrust mid-flight (X,). Aviation attorney Mary Schiavo suggested a Thrust Control Malfunction Accommodation (TCMA) error, like a 2025 United Airlines case, could have misfired, throttling back engines (Financial Express,). Yet, the AAIB found no FADEC command for the cutoff, and the physical movement of switches suggests a mechanical or external trigger (Leeham News,). A 2018 FAA bulletin noted disengaged locking mechanisms on Boeing fuel switches, but Air India’s failure to inspect them doesn’t confirm a fault, as the switches require deliberate force (BBC,).
Human error remains a contentious hypothesis. Sabharwal and Kunder, with 15,600 and 3,400 flight hours, were experienced and rested (Wikipedia,). The rapid switch movement, within one second, and the pilots’ confusion in the CVR argue against deliberate action (BBC,). X user @zhao_dashuai’s theory of a pilot mistaking the flap lever for the gear handle was debunked, as the 787’s takeoff configuration warning would alert such an error (BBC,). John Nance, on ABC News Live, leaned toward a system glitch, noting the pilots’ “mayday” call at 08:09:05 UTC left mere seconds to react (Newsweek,). The selective release of CVR data, withholding full transcripts, fuels accusations of bias, with @mujifren suggesting collusion between Boeing and Indian authorities to scapegoat pilots (X,).
The crash’s cultural resonance, like The Acolyte’s backlash you’ve discussed, shows how speculation thrives online. X posts from @TheFederal_News call for FADEC audits, amplifying “systemic betrayal” fears (X). Families, like Ayushi Christian, demand accountability, questioning why Air India skipped the 2018 FAA checks (BBC,). Boeing’s 9% stock drop and silence beyond condolences reflect their precarious position (Newsweek,). The investigation, involving Boeing, GE Aerospace, and NTSB, must clarify whether a hidden code, mechanical flaw, or human action caused the tragedy (FAA,). With 1,100 787s in service, a systemic issue could shake aviation, but the evidence, so far, keeps the mystery alive, blending technical scrutiny with public distrust.
