After the Air India plane crashed into a medical campus, the surviving doctors rushed to save lives
PBS NewsHourJUN 19
FAA Declares Boeing Fuel Switches Safe After Air India Crash
Above: Aircraft landing gear at the crash site of Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, on June 12, 2025. Image copyright: Siddharaj Solanki/Contributor/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The fuel switches are clearly moved by human action since they require deliberate lifting to disengage locks and cannot be accidentally bumped. Aviation experts confirm experienced pilots know exactly what happens when these switches are turned off, raising serious questions about intentional action. The investigation must focus on pilot actions rather than mechanical failure.
Narrative B
Speculation about pilot suicide is completely unfounded and deeply insensitive to families involved in this tragedy. The 2018 FAA advisory about faulty locking mechanisms suggests potential equipment malfunction, not human error. Pilots deserve fair representation in investigations rather than premature blame.