https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/17/air-india-captain-cut-off-fuel-to-engines/Some noteworthy unofficial "new news," it appears the Indian captain hit the fuel cutoff switches while the co-pilot was flying the take-off. The article further states the captain, who denied hitting the cutoff switches, stayed calm while the co-pilot panicked. We also again see the claims the pilot had mental health issues.
So if true, was the pilot calm because he was at peace with his decision to take his own life, or because he was a skilled, high time pilot whose training kicked on and he was focused on correcting their problem? I've listened to hundreds of mishap CVR recordings, the vast majority of pilots stay calm right up to impact. Listen to the audio of Capt Sullenberger talking to ATC before he went into the Hudson, he's very calm.
The maintenance history of the aircraft is also interesting, sounds like it had it's had its share of squawks. I've wondered about the possibility of some maintenence or software issue causing an uncommanded actuation of the fuel cut off switches, the odd spurious electron can do screwy things to electric jets. They'd have to be able recreate the scenario in a sim to give this theory any legs.
