The investigation into the Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, continues to be a source of intense scrutiny and conflicting reports, leaving many questions unanswered. The crash, which claimed the lives of 260 people, including 19 in a nearby medical hostel, has sparked a flurry of media coverage, preliminary reports, and statements from various agencies, yet a definitive explanation remains elusive.

Initial findings by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) indicate that both engines of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner failed shortly after takeoff. The preliminary report revealed that the fuel supply to both engines was "cut off" within one second of each other. Specifically, the fuel cutoff switches, which control fuel flow, moved from the "RUN" to the "CUTOFF" position almost simultaneously. A black box recording captured one pilot asking, "Why did you cut off?", with the other pilot denying doing so. Following the engine failure, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency power backup, automatically deployed, further indicating a total loss of engine thrust.

However, the AAIB's preliminary report has been met with skepticism and concern. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has criticized the report's reliance on selectively interpreted cockpit recordings and the exclusion of pilot representatives from the investigation. The FIP argues that assigning blame prematurely, before a transparent, data-driven investigation, is irresponsible and undermines the professionalism of the crew.

Adding to the confusion, a Wall Street Journal report cited US investigators stating that black-box data might clarify the sequence of actions during the flight's final moments. The report highlighted that switches were flipped in rapid succession, approximately one second apart, followed by both switches being turned back on about 10 seconds later. This pattern has led experts to question whether such movements could occur unintentionally. The report also suggests that some US officials believe there may be grounds for a criminal review, as would likely be the case if the crash had occurred on American soil.

Meanwhile, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has rebuked recent media coverage as "premature and speculative". NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy urged the public and media to await official findings by the AAIB before drawing conclusions based on preliminary information. This stance aligns with a public appeal issued by the AAIB, which expressed concerns about "selective and unverified reporting" by certain international outlets.

Adding another layer of complexity, an Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, citing sources familiar with the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), claimed that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal purportedly cut off fuel to the left engine, followed by the right. According to this report, the first officer, Clive Kunder, asked why the engines were shut off, to which the captain vaguely responded, "I didn't do it". These claims, however, have not been independently verified.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has urged against premature conclusions, emphasizing that the investigation is far from over. He stated that the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed. Wilson also mentioned that all Boeing 787 aircraft in Air India's fleet were checked as a precaution, and all were found fit for service.

Amidst the uncertainty, a prior advisory from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding a potential flaw in the fuel-control switch system of some Boeing planes, including the Dreamliner, has resurfaced. Although Air India was not mandated to inspect the system, the advisory raises questions about potential contributing factors.

The investigation into the AI171 crash is ongoing, with key aspects such as wreckage analysis, post-mortem reports, and component inspections still underway. Until the AAIB releases its final report with comprehensive findings and recommendations, the causes of the crash and the sequence of events in the cockpit remain unclear. The current situation is marked by more confusion than clarity, highlighting the complexities of aviation accident investigations and the challenges of piecing together the truth from fragmented information.