Evidence from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and US officials indicates that the fuel-control switches were manually toggled to the "cutoff" position about one second apart soon after the Boeing 787-8 began its climb. The co-pilot, identified as First Officer Clive Kunder, is heard questioning the action: “Why did you cut off the fuel?”, to which the other pilot responds that he did not.
Critical flight data combined with closed‑circuit CCTV footage showing the deployment of a ram air turbine suggest sudden engine power loss shortly after takeoff. Although both engines briefly reignited, insufficient thrust led the aircraft to descend and collide with buildings within the B. J. Medical College campus.
Investigators have shifted their focus to the actions of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned aviator with over 15,600 flight hours, while the junior first officer had logged around 3,400 hours. The AAIB has not yet assigned responsibility, but US authorities, including the NTSB, have been privy to preliminary assessments suggesting deliberate operation of the switches—though accidental activation cannot yet be ruled out.
Air India and Boeing have publicly stated that the aircraft had no maintenance or mechanical issues, and that pre-flight checks, including pilot medical evaluations and breathalyser tests, were clear. US regulators and Boeing privately confirmed the functionality of the fuel switch locks post‑incident.
Widely reported media outlets such as Reuters, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post consistently emphasise that the AAIB’s preliminary report itself stops short of assigning blame, but highlights the unexpected sequence of switch movements and ensuing pilot confusion. Families of the victims, including 53 UK citizens, have voiced frustration over perceived vagueness in the initial findings, demanding a more transparent and comprehensive inquiry.
Industry experts caution against drawing premature conclusions. Aviation authorities from South Korea, Singapore, Europe and India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation have instructed airlines operating Boeing models, particularly the Dreamliner and 737 families, to inspect fuel-control systems as a precaution, although no systemic faults have emerged.
The incident has reignited debate on the potential value of cockpit video recorders. Voice and flight‑data recorders capture critical metrics, but lack visual context. The absence of cockpit imagery has stoked calls from safety advocates, including IATA chief Willie Walsh and experts like Anthony Brickhouse, who argue that video footage could clarify pilot intent and behavioural patterns. Opponents, including pilot unions such as ALPA and APA, cite privacy issues and the risk of misuse.
Reconstruction of voice transcripts and switch timelines reveals that the left side fuel switch was restored to "run" position approximately ten seconds after the cut-off, followed shortly by the right switch. That brief interruption was enough to cause irreversible thrust loss, incapacitating the aircraft and triggering a mayday call before impact. The deputy pilot’s Mayday was recorded about a minute later, but lacked sufficient time and altitude for recovery.
Investigation teams, including those from NTSB, Boeing and GE, are also exploring technical failure possibilities and psychological profiling of crew members. The AAIB declined to speculate on intent in its preliminary report, which also did not produce safety recommendations for either Boeing or GE.