The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash

Key Points:

• On 12 June last year, Air India Flight 171 crashed 32 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 230 passengers and 19 people on the ground; only one person on board survived.
• India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) leads the investigation with involvement from US experts, including Boeing and the NTSB, but the preliminary report sparked controversy by suggesting potential pilot error without conclusive evidence.
• The preliminary report noted that fuel cutoff switches were moved seconds after takeoff, causing engine failure, but lacked clear conclusions and led to speculation about pilot suicide, which has been strongly contested by pilots' groups and safety campaigners.
• Alternative theories suggest a major electrical failure caused the plane's systems to mistakenly cut fuel supply, supported by evidence of prior electrical faults in the aircraft and discrepancies in the timeline of events.
• The investigation has exposed broader concerns about the impartiality and transparency of air accident inquiries, with calls for a global independent investigation authority and reforms to improve accountability and trust in future investigations.