Air India AAIB Report On Ahmedabad Plane Crash Says Co-Pilot Was Flying, Captain Was Monitoring

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released a preliminary report on the Air India flight AI-171 crash. The report reveals that the co-pilot was in control of the aircraft when it crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad on June 12. The captain was overseeing the flight. Tragically, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner collided with the BJ Medical College hostel complex, resulting in 260 fatalities.

The cockpit voice recorder captured a conversation between the pilots about fuel issues, but it remains unclear which pilot raised the concern or who made the "Mayday" call before impact. This incident marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787. The captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, had extensive experience with over 15,600 flying hours, including more than 8,500 hours on this aircraft model.

Air India's Response to AAIB Report

Air India has acknowledged receiving the AAIB's preliminary findings and expressed its commitment to supporting affected families. The airline is fully cooperating with investigators but refrains from commenting on technical specifics due to the ongoing investigation. "We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025," stated Air India on X.

Boeing also issued a statement following the release of the AAIB's initial report. The co-pilot involved in this tragic event was Clive Kunder, aged 32, who had accumulated approximately 3,400 flying hours and had been qualified as a Boeing 787 co-pilot since 2017.

Investigation Details and Cooperation

The AAIB's report highlights that during this flight, Clive Kunder was designated as Pilot Flying (PF), while Captain Sumeet Sabharwal served as Pilot Monitoring (PM). Air India continues to work closely with stakeholders and regulators as part of their cooperation with authorities during this investigation.

The airline has reiterated its full cooperation with all relevant parties involved in investigating this tragic accident. However, they have directed all inquiries regarding specific details to be addressed by the AAIB due to its active nature.