New details in Air India crash probe shift focus to plane's captain, WSJ reports
FILE PHOTO: Wreckage of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane sits on the open ground, outside Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, where it took off and crashed nearby shortly afterwards, in Ahmedabad, India July 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo
A cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the Air India flight that crashed last month indicates the captain turned off the switches that controlled fuel flowing to the plane's engines, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
The newspaper cited people familiar with U.S. officials' early assessment of evidence uncovered in the investigation into the crash, which killed 260 people.
The first officer, who was flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, asked the more experienced captain why he moved the switches to the "cutoff" position after it climbed off the runway, the report said.
The first officer expressed surprise and then panicked, while the captain seemed to remain calm, the WSJ reported.
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Boeing and Air India did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on the report.
The two pilots involved were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively.
A preliminary report released last week by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau depicted confusion in the cockpit shortly before the June 12 crash, and raised fresh questions over the position of the critical engine fuel cutoff switches. REUTERS
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA
Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore
Business Market versus mission: What will Income Insurance choose?
Opinion AI and education: We need to know where this sudden marriage is heading
Singapore Coffee Meets Bagel's Singpass check: Why I'll swipe right on that
Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence
Sport 'Like being in a washing machine with 40 deg C water': Open water swimmers brave challenging conditions
Singapore Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- Straits Times
India investigators say too early to draw conclusions on Air India crash cause
Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after it took off from an airport in Ahmedabad, on July 12. NEW DELHI – India's aircraft accident investigation body said on July 17 it was too early to reach any 'definite conclusions' on what led to the deadly Air India Boeing plane crash in June that killed 260 people. 'We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,' Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) chief GVG Yugandhar said, adding the investigation is still not complete. Earlier on July 17, the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with US officials' early assessment of evidence, reported that a cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the flight indicated that the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines. The AAIB's preliminary report on the crash on July 12 said one pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel and 'the other pilot responded that he did not do so'. It did not identify who made those remarks. The two pilots in the flight deck were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively. First Officer Kunder, who was flying the plane, asked Capt Sabharwal why he moved the fuel switches to the 'cutoff' position seconds after lifting off the runway, according to the Journal report. The newspaper did not say if there was any evidence that Capt Sabharwal did move the switches, beyond the verbal exchange it cited. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Singapore Premium China carmaker Hongqi, known for Xi Jinping's limos, to launch in Singapore in 2026 But it quoted US pilots who have read the Indian authorities' report as saying that First Officer Kunder, the pilot actively flying, likely would have had his hands full pulling back on the Dreamliner's controls at that stage of the flight. REUTERS
Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Israel indicts soldier on charges he spied for Iran
Find out what's new on ST website and app. JERUSALEM - Israeli authorities have charged a soldier with spying for Iran in exchange for money, the police and security agency Shin Bet said in a statement on Thursday. The statement said the soldier, who was not named, had sent the Iranians videos of Israeli missile interceptions and sites hit by Iranian rocket fire in last month's 12-day war between the arch enemies. The security service said he had not sent material collected during his duties with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and added that none of the information given to Iran had been classified. However, the statement said: "This is considered a particularly grave incident involving direct contact between an IDF soldier and hostile foreign elements." A military court ordered that he should remain in custody until next week. News of the indictment came just one day after Israel launched an unusual, nationwide media campaign warning citizens against spying for Iran. The ads said people who took Iranian cash in return for information faced up to 15 years in prison. For its part, Iran has executed several people over the past month after they were convicted of collaborating with Israel and facilitating covert operations in the country. REUTERS
Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Air India probe of Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues
Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after it took off from an airport in Ahmedabad, on June 12. NEW DELHI – India's aircraft accident investigation body said on July 17 it was too early to reach any 'definite conclusions' on what led to the deadly Air India Boeing plane crash in June that killed 260 people. 'We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,' Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) chief GVG Yugandhar said, adding the investigation is still not complete. Earlier on July 17, the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with US officials' early assessment of evidence, reported that a cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the flight indicated that the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines. The AAIB's preliminary report on the crash on July 12 said one pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel and 'the other pilot responded that he did not do so'. It did not identify who made those remarks. The two pilots in the flight deck were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively. First Officer Kunder, who was flying the plane, asked Capt Sabharwal why he moved the fuel switches to the 'cutoff' position seconds after lifting off the runway, according to the Journal report. The newspaper did not say if there was any evidence that Capt Sabharwal did move the switches, beyond the verbal exchange it cited. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Singapore Premium China carmaker Hongqi, known for Xi Jinping's limos, to launch in Singapore in 2026 But it quoted US pilots who have read the Indian authorities' report as saying that First Officer Kunder, the pilot actively flying, likely would have had his hands full pulling back on the Dreamliner's controls at that stage of the flight. REUTERS
