Plane Crash Report Reveals Co-Pilot Was in Control During Takeoff, Not the Captain
Plane Crash Report Reveals Co-Pilot Was in Control During Takeoff, Not the Captain
AAIB preliminary findings suggest no violation of flight norms; fuel cutoff led to loss of engine power near Ahmedabad
In a significant revelation, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has confirmed in its preliminary report that the co-pilot, Clive Kunder, was in control of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner during takeoff, not the pilot-in-command (PIC), Captain Sumit Sabharwal. The aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
#WATCH | On AAIB's preliminary report on AI 171 crash, MoS Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol says, "The AAIB has brought out a preliminary report. This is not the final report. Until the final report comes out, we should not arrive at any conclusion. AAIB is an autonomous… pic.twitter.com/ypIWnzb6Gt
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025
According to the AAIB report, Clive Kunder handled the aircraft from its runway roll until the crash. Despite Captain Sabharwal’s extensive experience over 8,600 hours of flight time, he had assumed the role of pilot monitoring, while co-pilot Kunder, with only 1,100 hours of flight experience at the time, was the one flying the aircraft.
This raised questions about why such an inexperienced pilot was allowed to take charge during such a critical phase. However, the AAIB clarified that Captain Sabharwal was not distracted or absent. He was performing his designated role as the pilot monitoring, as per operational protocol.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu addressed the issue, stating that the AAIB’s findings are preliminary and not the final word. “We are analysing the report and working with AAIB to support the investigation. The final report will give us a clearer picture,” he said.
As per aviation norms, a co-pilot can take control under the supervision of a qualified PIC, provided certain conditions are met. A senior pilot from a private airline explained that the PIC must have:
- Over 3,000 total flight hours,
- At least 1,000 hours of experience as a PIC, and
- A minimum of 300 hours of experience as a PIC on the same aircraft type.
Captain Sabharwal reportedly met all these criteria, and the co-pilot also had the required 300 hours of on-type experience as a co-pilot. Therefore, assigning the takeoff to Clive Kunder under Captain Sabharwal’s supervision was not against aviation rules.
The report further reveals that within seconds of takeoff, both fuel control switches shut off, cutting the fuel supply to the engines. This sudden loss of thrust caused the aircraft to crash moments later, near the Ahmedabad airport.
The final report from AAIB is awaited for a conclusive understanding of what led to the tragic incident.
