The focus on the Air India pilot

Full transparency regarding the probe is the most compelling way forward in light of new claims.

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The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported that cockpit voice recordings suggest Air India Flight 17I’s captain switched off engine fuel during takeoff, catching his copilot by surprise.

The revelation significantly changes understanding of one of India’s deadliest aviation tragedies, though deliberate human action had emerged as a focus after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)’s preliminary report showed fuel switches moved “one after another” to cutoff position, with “one pilot asking the other why did he cutoff’ and receiving a denial—without identifying who said what. AAIB said reports in Western media were irresponsible and it was illogical to reach “definite conclusions”.