India’s civil aviation ministry has dismissed reports suggesting that the pilot of Air India Flight 171 deliberately shut off the aircraft’s fuel switches, causing the crash near Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. Murlidhar Mohol, the junior minister for civil aviation, told reporters that the claims by an Italian publication are unfounded. “Our investigation agencies are probing the matter,” he said. “Should we have faith in our own agencies or outsiders? Our agencies are working on it. Once the final report is finalised, then only will it be justifiable to comment on it.”
The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that Indian investigators were preparing a final report concluding that the crash occurred because one of the pilots switched off the aircraft’s fuel switches in an act that was “almost certainly” intentional. The report suggested that this deliberate action was the primary cause of the accident.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) quickly responded to these claims, emphasising that the investigation is still ongoing and no conclusions have been drawn. The agency clarified that it would be inappropriate to assign blame to any individual or factor before the inquiry is completed. “The investigation into the Ahmedabad crash is still ongoing, and no conclusions have been reached. It would be inappropriate to assign blame to any individual or factor before the inquiry is fully completed,” an AAIB statement said.
The AAIB also highlighted that aviation accident investigations require detailed technical analysis, including a thorough review of flight data recorders, cockpit voice recordings, and aircraft systems. The bureau denied that the probe had been finalised and urged the public and media to rely only on official updates.
The civil aviation ministry and AAIB confirmed that the final investigation report will be released only after a comprehensive review of all available evidence. This report will outline the technical findings and contributing factors that led to the crash. Both authorities stressed the importance of waiting for the official report before forming any conclusions regarding the cause or attributing responsibility.
The Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad has drawn significant attention due to the early speculation about pilot error. Authorities are now focused on completing a transparent and detailed investigation to ensure the public receives an accurate account of the events leading to the tragedy.
