Investigation Targets Captain in Air India Crash
The probe into the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad has shifted focus to Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. The June 12 disaster killed 260 people with just one survivor.
Cockpit Recording Analysis
Preliminary findings revealed both fuel switches were turned off shortly after takeoff. Cockpit recordings capture First Officer Clive Kunder asking: "Why did you turn off the fuel supply?" Captain Sabharwal responded: "I didn't." Investigators note a one-second gap between the switch activations suggests human intervention.
Experience Levels and Reactions
Captain Sabharwal (56) had over 15,600 flight hours while First Officer Kunder (32) had approximately 3,400 hours. Recordings indicate Kunder displayed panic while Sabharwal remained calm throughout the emergency.
Technical Findings
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau confirmed no mechanical faults or maintenance issues. The aircraft briefly regained fuel flow but couldn't recover due to low altitude and airspeed. This marks the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 787 since its 2011 debut.
Industry Response
Indian aviation authorities ordered immediate checks of Boeing fuel switches. U.S. regulators maintain the switches are accident-proof. The Indian Pilots' Federation condemned the allegations against Sabharwal as premature speculation.