Fears are escalating over the cause of the deadly Air India crash, as a prominent aviation expert has cast doubt on claims of mechanical failure, suggesting the catastrophe may have been the result of a deliberate act. Former pilot and aviation analyst Terry Tozer said that the odds of the aircraft’s fuel cutoff switches being activated accidentally were “vanishingly small,” given their built-in locking mechanism.
His remarks follow the release of a preliminary report detailing the harrowing final seconds inside the cockpit of Flight AI171, which went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick, killing 241 passengers and crew and 19 people on the ground.
“The switches must be lifted before they can be moved,” Tozer told The Sun.
“They’re locked in position otherwise. The fact that both switches were moved, first one, then the other, strongly implies a deliberate action.”
The preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found no mechanical faults or signs of improper maintenance.
It also revealed that fuel was cut off shortly after takeoff, a move Tozer and other experts say would almost certainly have required human intervention.
While the report refrains from assigning blame, it has deepened speculation that the crash may have been caused by a pilot suicide.
Investigators have not disclosed which pilot said: “Why did you cutoff?” during the final moments, and experts say this omission may suggest an effort to remain cautious until the full report is released.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who commanded the ill-fated flight, is now under increased scrutiny. Neighbours and colleagues have revealed he was dealing with the recent death of his mother and considering early retirement to care for his elderly father.
Reports have also emerged that Sabharwal had taken leaves of absence in recent years due to depression and mental health challenges.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has urged restraint, cautioning that the investigation is ongoing. In a leaked internal memo, he reminded staff not to jump to conclusions and noted that the preliminary report “opened additional questions” while offering no definitive cause.
Still, the growing evidence and expert opinions continue to shift the conversation toward the possibility of intentional sabotage, adding pressure on investigators to provide a definitive conclusion in the coming months.
