Following the Air India Dreamliner crash on June 12, 2025, which tragically killed at least 260 people, including 241 on board, speculation has arisen regarding the cause of the accident. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report, noting that the fuel cutoff switches for engines 1 and 2 moved from the run to the cutoff position within one second of each other. This detail has led some Western media outlets to suggest that one of the pilots deliberately switched off the fuel supply, causing the crash.

However, aviation expert Captain Eshan Khalid has challenged this theory, asserting that it is mathematically implausible. He argues that the rapid succession of the fuel switch movements, within just one second, makes it unlikely that it was a deliberate act by either pilot. According to Khalid, for a pilot to move both switches in such a short time frame would require them to move each switch in approximately 500 milliseconds, which he deems unrealistic.

Khalid suggests an alternative explanation: an electrical signal may have caused the fuel cutoff, and the pilots only moved the switches later while attempting to restart the engines and avert the crash. This perspective shifts the focus from potential pilot error orIntentionalAction to a possible technical malfunction.

The AAIB report indicated that the aircraft reached its maximum airspeed of 180 knots at 08:08:42 UTC, and the fuel cutoff switches transitioned shortly after. Specifically, the engine 1 fuel switch moved from cutoff to run at 08:08:52 UTC, followed by engine 2 at 08:08:56 UTC. The report also mentions that one pilot questioned the other about cutting off the fuel, to which the other responded that he did not.

Adding to the discussion, James Healy-Pratt, another aviation expert, has also spoken out against the growing conspiracy theories surrounding the crash. He stressed the importance of relying on evidence-based analysis and verified information during ongoing investigations. Similarly, US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy has cautioned against premature and speculative media reports, urging the public to await the official findings from the AAIB.

Several related videos and reports have surfaced, analyzing the Air India crash from various angles. These include discussions on the preliminary report's shortcomings, the role of the pilots, and potential safety concerns related to Boeing aircraft. Some reports have also highlighted the emotional impact of the crash, with Tata Group establishing a welfare trust for the victims' families.