Air India crash: AAIB summons nephew of late Captain Sabharwal, pilots protest​

The federation of Indian pilots reportedly sent a legal notice to Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) after Captain Varun Anand, nephew of late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was summoned by the investigation body in the probe related to AI171 crash in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar.

Reports noted that the federation objected to the investigation body summoning a relative of the pilot, calling it ‘unlawful’ and ‘unwarranted’.

Captain Varun Anand, however, has agreed to appear for the hearing on January 15 through video conferencing, according to reports.

The ill-fated Air India aircraft was headed to London’s Gatwick Airport on June 12, 2025, with 230 passengers and 12 crew aboard including Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kunder, but crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad Airport, resulting in more than 260 casualties, including more than a dozen on the ground.

Notably, the aviation authorities are investigating a series of possible technical snags that led to one of the worst aviation disasters in country, however, nothing substantial or any ‘incriminating evidence’ has come out yet.

The AAIB had released its 15-page preliminary findings of the investigation, a month after the crash, on July 12, 2025, giving an insight into possible reasons leading to the disaster.

It stated that the aircraft’s engine fuel control switches “transitioned” from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ position, minutes after the plane took off, however, it didn’t clarify on whether the switches were moved physically.

The report didn’t specify whether any of the pilots made the switchover, but it reported about conversation within the cockpit where one of the pilots asked another why he cut off, with the other stating that he didn’t do it.