Background
On June 12, 2025, an Air India passenger aircraft crashed near Ahmedabad, resulting in the deaths of 260 people. The incident is considered one of the most serious aviation disasters in India’s recent history.
Allegations of Limited Access
According to international media reports, including The Telegraph and The Wall Street Journal, U.S. investigators have expressed concerns about the level of access provided during the probe. These reports claim that certain evidence, such as black box recordings and wreckage photographs, was not fully shared with foreign experts.
Express News reported that Former CIA officer and journalist Sarah Adams was quoted in U.S. coverage as saying that preliminary findings suggested possible pilot error, but she added that withholding black box data could raise security concerns.
Reports of Possible Human Interference
The Telegraph reported that U.S. aerospace experts believe there may have been human interference in the crash. According to the publication, black box data allegedly indicated that someone inside the cockpit may have manually shut down the engine’s fuel supply system.
Both The Telegraph and The Wall Street Journal noted that these findings have led to speculation that the crash might not have been accidental.
India’s Position
Indian authorities have not confirmed these allegations. The official investigation is being led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from international partners. No final cause has yet been established.
Calls for Transparency
U.S. agencies, as cited in media reports, have raised concerns about the transparency of India’s judicial and investigative processes. They argue that greater international oversight may be necessary to determine the true cause of the tragedy.
Outlook
At present, the claims of deliberate interference or evidence suppression remain unverified media reports. The official investigation is ongoing, and the final findings will depend on the results released by India’s AAIB and cooperating international agencies.