Washington: The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has strongly rejected recent media reports that claimed a pilot on Air India Flight AI-171 deliberately shut off the aircraft's fuel supply, leading to the devastating crash in Ahmedabad last month. The agency called such claims "speculative and premature" and urged the public and media to refrain from assigning blame before the investigation is complete.

The Air India Boeing 787 aircraft was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12 when it suffered a catastrophic failure shortly after takeoff. Within seconds, both engines lost power after the aircraft's fuel control switches were reportedly moved from the "RUN" position to "CUTOFF", effectively halting fuel supply. The aircraft plunged into a hospital complex about 1.6 kilometers from the runway, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground.

Recent reports, citing cockpit voice recorder data, suggested that one pilot may have asked the other, "Why did you cut off?", followed by a denial: "I did not do so." However, the identity of the speakers remains unconfirmed. Based on these details, several media outlets speculated that human error or even intentional sabotage may have played a role in the tragedy. The NTSB, however, dismissed such conclusions as unfounded.

Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the NTSB, issued a sharp response, stating that investigations of this magnitude require detailed technical analysis and multiple layers of review before any conclusion can be reached. She warned that public speculation, especially around pilot error or intent, can not only mislead the investigation but also unjustly damage reputations.