Following the tragic Air India (AI) 171 crash on June 12th, the incident continues to be a focal point of investigation and public debate. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has launched legal action against The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, accusing them of misleading reports and prematurely blaming the captain. FIP President Captain CS Randhawa condemned these media outlets for jumping to conclusions and demanded an explanation and apology.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has supported India’s stance, terming Western media reports premature and speculative. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy called for patience in the ongoing investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), reiterating full support. Controversy escalated after Western media, particularly the WSJ, published alleged cockpit voice recorder (CVR) details, some before the AAIB's preliminary report was released on July 12. An Italian newspaper cited CVR timestamps, detailing First Officer Clive Kunder asking in shock, "Why did you shut off the engines?" with Captain Sumeet Sabharwal vaguely replying, "I didn't do it" just seconds after lift-off. The AAIB's preliminary report, however, only contained an indirect, unattributed CVR quote about one pilot asking the other why they "cut-off" the engines. This vagueness has partially fuelled speculative reports.
Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has urged Western media to avoid speculation and affirmed the government's wait for the final report. Fleet Inspections and Sole Survivor's Account In response to the crash, Air India completed precautionary inspections on the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanism across all its Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft, including those of Air India Express. These inspections, complying with DGCA directives issued on July 14, 2025, found no issues and were completed within the set timeframe after starting on July 12.
Meanwhile, the sole survivor of the crash that killed over 200 people has spoken out. British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, in seat 11A, and his brother, Ajay, were aboard the Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad shortly after taking off. Ramesh's nephew, Krunal Keshave, stated that Ramesh struggles with sleep, dreaming of the flight and remembering "seeing everyone die in front of his eyes". Ramesh is recuperating at his home in Bucharwada village in Diu.
