Air India Plane Crash: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has rejected the controversial 'suicide theory' cited as the cause of the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash last year. The FIP's response comes after an official report claimed the pilot had cut off the fuel supply to commit suicide, which allegedly caused a backup power turbine to drop four seconds later.

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Simulator Test Exposes Flaws

Speaking at a press conference, Captain CS Randhawa, President of the FIP, stated that a simulator test conducted by the pilots' body showed it takes 18 seconds for the turbine to drop after a manual fuel cutoff. Consequently, the timeline alleged in the 'suicide theory' is impossible.

According to the FIP, the backup turbine dropped much faster because the aircraft was struck by a major electrical failure. This power failure or system glitch is what tripped the engine switches and caused the crash.

Supporting this theory, the FIP stated that the sole survivor of the crash reported seeing the cabin lights flicker right before the plane crashed.

Pilots' Body Flags Electrical Problems

The pilots' body further alleged that the aircraft involved in the crash had a history of unresolved electrical problems. To test this theory, the FIP used the exact weight and weather conditions as during the actual flight in a simulator, and the results were 'undeniable'.

The FIP has submitted this evidence to both Boeing and the government, demanding that the final report be stopped until this error is addressed. Furthermore, the pilots' body alleges that government investigators excluded Captain Sandhu, a Boeing 787 expert, from the actual testing process.

"They are ignoring an experienced pilot's input because his knowledge would completely disprove their 'pilot suicide' theory. We demand Captain Sandhu be put back on the team to make sure the truth about the crash is not covered up," the FIP said.

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About Suicide Theory

On June 12 last year, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating as AI-171 crashed into a student hostel and canteen building of a medical college in Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff. The tragic accident claimed the lives of 260 people, including 241 individuals on board the aircraft and 19 people on the ground. Only one passenger survived the crash.

Nearly a month after the tragedy, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report on the cause of the crash, citing a cockpit conversation between Captain Sumit Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder.

According to the cockpit audio, one pilot asked, "Why did you cut off?", to which the other replied, "I didn't." This exchange triggered widespread speculation that the crash may have been caused by deliberate pilot error or a suicide attempt.