Sonali Tiwary
The investigation into the deadly Air India flight AI-171 crash that killed 260 people continues to explore “all angles,” including potential sabotage, according to India’s aviation officials. This development marks the first formal acknowledgment of sabotage as a possible cause of the June 12 tragedy in Ahmedabad.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting a comprehensive probe. “It is being probed from all angles, including any possible sabotage,” Mohol said in an interview. “The CCTV footage is being reviewed and all angles are being assessed… several agencies are working on it.”
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, bound for London. The plane hit residential quarters at BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area, killing 241 passengers and crew on board, plus 19 people on the ground. Only one passenger, Vishwash Ramesh from Leicester, survived.
What has drawn particular attention from investigators is the apparent simultaneous failure of both engines. Pilot Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 55, frantically radioed “No thrust… May Day… May Day” moments after takeoff.
“It has never happened that both engines have shut down together,” Mohol noted, calling it a “rare case.” He explained that investigators are working to determine “if it was an engine problem or fuel supply issue or why both the engines had stopped functioning.”
The flight reached an altitude of just 190 meters before gliding down and crashing 33 seconds after takeoff. Aviation experts have described simultaneous engine failure as extremely unusual – “a one in a billion event.”
The plane’s black boxes – the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) – are crucial to understanding what happened. These devices record pilot conversations and flight data including speed, altitude, and engine performance. They were recovered from the crash site and are now being analyzed in India.
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“There is a CVR in the black box which has stored the conversation between the two pilots,” Mohol explained. “It is too early to say anything but whatever it is, it will come out.”
Mohol dismissed reports that the black box would be sent abroad. “It will not go anywhere. It is in AAIB’s custody and there is no need to send it outside. We will do the entire investigation,” he stated. Data extraction began on June 24, with both Indian and US experts involved in the process.
The final investigation report is expected within three months. Meanwhile, the minister assured the public that air travel in India remains safe. “All 33 Dreamliners have been inspected on the orders of the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation). Everything was found safe. That is why I said it was a rare accident. People are no longer scared and travelling comfortably.”
In a bizarre twist, authorities arrested a woman for falsely claiming responsibility for the crash. Rene Joshilda, a 30-year-old robotics engineer from Chennai, allegedly emailed BJ Medical College stating, “Like we sent you mail yesterday, we crashed the Air India plane.” She reportedly sent hoax bomb threats across 11 Indian states as part of what officials described as a personal revenge plot unrelated to the actual crash.
All victims’ bodies have now been identified and returned to families. Of the 260 deceased, 254 were identified through DNA matching and six through facial recognition. The passengers included 181 Indian nationals, 52 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national.
The AAIB investigation includes reviewing maintenance records, environmental conditions, and crew actions in addition to the black box data. The US National Transportation Safety Board is participating due to the American-made aircraft, and the International Civil Aviation Organization has appointed an observer to the investigation.
Mohol also addressed the issue of 419 technical vacancies in the DGCA, saying efforts will soon be made to fill these positions – a step that could strengthen aviation safety oversight in India. The insurance claims related to the crash are reportedly reaching substantial figures as families seek closure in the aftermath of this devastating tragedy.
