The preliminary report, led by Indian authorities with experts from Boeing, General Electric, Air India, Indian regulators and participants from the U.S. and UK, raises several questions. The 15-page report stated that seconds after liftoff, both engine fuel control switches shifted from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” one second apart, shutting off fuel and causing engine failure.
Air India Flight AI 171, bound from Ahmedabad to London carrying 230 passengers and crew, crashed minutes after takeoff on June 12, killing 260 people in one of the deadliest aviation incidents in India in recent years.
The flight lasted about 30 seconds. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other why the “cut-off” was triggered, with the response denying responsibility. The recording does not identify who spoke.
At takeoff, the co-pilot was flying while the captain was monitoring. The switches were reset to their normal inflight position, triggering automatic engine relight. At the time of the crash, one engine was regaining thrust while the other had relit but had not yet restored power.
Aviation experts and Indian netizens have questioned both the report and Western media coverage that places sole blame on the pilots. The Pilots’ Association of India has objected to the investigation’s direction, alleging it presumes pilot guilt.
Fuel samples from the bowsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were tested at the DGCA lab and found satisfactory. Only a small amount of fuel was recovered from the APU filter and the left wing refuel/jettison valve. These samples will be sent to a facility equipped to test minimal quantities.
The report stated that the investigation team will review additional evidence from stakeholders.
Media reaction
After the report’s release, several media outlets attributed the crash to pilot error, naming Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, and First Officer Clive Kunder, 32. The BBC headlined its story, “Pilot cut off fuel to engine — no fault with plane,” implying pilot responsibility, according to an Instagram post by Indian Pilot. Some reports also suggested the crash may have been a suicide.
The AAIB’s findings and their coverage drew criticism from the aviation sector. On Saturday, the Airline Pilots’ Association of India-I condemned the report’s “tone and direction,” alleging bias toward blaming the pilots.
“The investigation appears biased toward pilot error. ALPA-I rejects this presumption and demands a fair, fact-based inquiry,” said ALPA-I President Sam Thomas.
The association also reiterated its request to be included in the investigation as observers.
“We call upon media organisations and public commentators to act with restraint, empathy and respect for due process,” the ICPA said in a statement. “The crew of AI 171 acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions. They deserve support—not vilification based on conjecture.”
The ICPA expressed “unwavering support” for the crew and criticised speculative narratives, particularly the insinuation of suicide.
“There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage. Invoking such an allegation based on incomplete information is irresponsible and deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved,” it said.
Ongoing investigation
Following the report’s release and the resulting debate, Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu clarified that the findings are preliminary and the matter remains under investigation, according to Times of India.
However, the report leaves key questions unanswered. It confirms that the engine fuel control switches moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” but does not explain how or why this occurred.
Former IAF director Sanjeev Kapoor called the report incomplete regarding the fuel switches.
“It is bizarre to suggest that any sane pilot would deliberately operate the fuel cut-off switches right after takeoff,” he told India Today. “Why would a pilot, having just lifted off manually, turn the aircraft 170 degrees just to shut down the engines? It defies logic.”
The investigation is ongoing, according to the agency. The team will review additional records, evidence, and information from stakeholders. The final report is expected in the coming months.
In June, Air India announced a 15 percent reduction in international widebody operations through at least mid-July following the crash.
Sue McDonald works at the Whitechapel Centre and has warned about the stress homelessness can have on children
Staff at a homeless charity have warned of the impact living in temporary accommodation can have on children.
The warning comes after Liverpool city council announced plans to launch a new strategy to reduce its use of hotels and bed and breakfasts for homeless families.
There are over 450 children living in temporary accommodation in the city at the moment, with 1700 households placed in bed and breakfasts and hotels, according to the latest council figures.
Sue McDonald, who works at the Whitechapel centre, said children who had to stay in hotel rooms with their families could be privy to unsettling conversations about money and other worries, which could put “a lot of stress” on them.
“They have to go to school and create a façade that everything is normal, when it’s far from normal.” she said.
She added: “The children don’t express themselves verbally about what’s going on, but it’s through all the activities we do with them that we can see this is something that does weigh heavy on their minds.”
Currently, the council refers homeless families assessed as having the greatest need to a homeless centre, based in Toxteth, Liverpool.
Mum Kerry had been placed in five or six different hotels with her toddler before arriving there.
She said one hotel was in the city centre where she was surrounded by “drunk people” and another was in a rural location, with no access to transport.
Alison Connor says losing a home is “traumatising” for children
She said: “We’ve been passed from hotel to hotel, room to room. It’s hard.”
“My son didn’t like it, he had no routine, just slung into a room with no facilities, just a kettle.” She added he had no space to play or move around.
She said staying at the centre had been “brilliant” and had “changed her perspective” on her family’s future.
She said “becoming homeless is something that could happen to anyone” and added, “you never know if you’re going to have to leave a domestic violence situation, a fire, flee”.
Kerry said private rented accommodation was impossible for her because landlords expected so much money upfront.
Councillor Hetty Wood, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Homelessness can affect anyone. Families in temporary accommodation, young people leaving care, people fleeing violence, refugees and those facing eviction all need our support.
“This new strategy is about prevention, dignity and long-term solutions. It’s also about listening to people with lived experience and making sure services respond to their needs. Everyone deserves somewhere safe to stay.”
The homeless centre is based in a huge Victorian mansion and offers self-contained flats for up to 16 families.
Alison Connor, centre manager, said losing a home is one of the “most traumatising” things that can happen to a child.
She said: “Often they’ve lost all their pets, all their toys, they’ve moved out of the neighbourhood where all their friends are.
“They may still be going to school but it’s a long way, so they may be turning up late.” She said things like free transport passes for children could help keep them in their old schools, and that consistency in education was essential for maintaining stability in children’s lives.
She added that living in the hotel system can make children feel “removed” from their “old life”.
Alison added it was becoming harder to find suitable permanent accommodation for the families to move into, sometimes taking 200 days to find somewhere for a small family.
She added larger families could be living at the centre for two years “because there’s nowhere for them to go”.
Liverpool city council said the costs of temporary accommodation were projected to rise from £250,000 in 2019 to £28m by the end of this financial year.
Emirates and IHG Hotels & Resorts sign MOU to explore collaboration, incentives and support travel needs of SMEs
The Voice of Chandigarh News:
Emirates and IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore joint collaborations on programmes designed to meet the travel needs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across global markets. The signing ceremony was attended by Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales and Country Management; Matthew Jones, VP-USA, Emirates; Ashraf Baytam, Senior Manager Global Business Travel, Emirates; and Ryan Plemmons, Vice President, Global Sales Strategy, IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Together, Emirates and IHG will explore ways to reach and engage with SMEs through value-added benefits and exclusive rewards to facilitate business travel. The hotel group will provide enhanced travel incentives and seamless integration with its extensive portfolio of hotels and resorts around the globe.
Present at the signing ceremony was Nabil Sultan, Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales and Country Management, who commented: “With the SME segment playing a crucial role in fostering economic growth and creating jobs, Emirates is committed to supporting them with solutions and value-added propositions to meet their travel needs. We are pleased to collaborate with the leading hotel group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, to explore programmes that will be mutually beneficial to our valued customers. Together we aim to extend valuable benefits to our customers in the SME sector, while expanding our customer base in this very important segment.”
Mark Sergot, SVP, Global Sales, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Emirates to redefine business travel for Small and Medium Enterprises worldwide. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to delivering exceptional value, seamless experiences, and exclusive rewards tailored to the unique needs of SMEs. By combining IHG’s hospitality expertise with Emirate’s global connectivity, we are unlocking new possibilities to empower businesses and drive growth across international markets.”
London, United Kingdom – A modern hotel brand, TRIBE Hotels, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, continues to grow further into Europe. IHG is now set to open multiple new hotels in Krakow, Paris, Budapest, Ljubljana and other major cities. TRIBE is renowned for its design-oriented hospitality and is known to offer modern, tiered, and affordable hotels. The speedy growth of this brand shows a soaring demand for excellently designed and affordable functional hotels for business and leisure travelers.
We’ve TRIBE Krakow Old Town now open, and Paris, Budapest, and Ljubljana as future projects, we can see the rapid development of TRIBE across the the rest of Europe, providing travelers modern and stylish hotels that showcase local culture.
A Brand Focused on Design for Today’s Travelers
TRIBE Hotels was launched in 2017 and has been committed to offering comfortable and functional design stays that are convenient and stylish for today’s traveler. Every hotel incorporates local and cultural design elements to give guests a refreshing yet modern feel. Every TRIBE hotel integrates local design elements to give a modern yet authentic feel. This approach, together with a design focus and a minimalist approach, guarantees that all TRIBE hotels deliver a remarkable stay.
New Openings Across Europe
TRIBE Hotels is further expanding their presence in Europe with the opening of new locations in key markets:
TRIBE Krakow Old Town, Poland: Opened in July 2025, this property is inspired by the cult TV show Twin Peaks, reflecting the cinematographic style of David Lynch. The hotel has 168 guest rooms, a coffee bar, a pan-Asian restaurant, a wellness area, and two meeting rooms. Moreover, the guests can relish the city and global local design while savoring Krakow’s rich history.
TRIBE Budapest Airport, Hungary: Located adjacent to Liszt Ferenc International Airport, this hotel, opened in May 2025, offers 167 guest rooms, five meeting rooms, a rooftop bar, and a fitness center. As one of the early adopters of BREEAM certification, one of the first BREEAM-certified Hotels in Hungary, it focuses on sustainable design while prioritizing guest comfort.
TRIBE Paris Pantin, France: This property is the newest addition to TRIBE, having opened in June 2025, and is situated pivot near La Villette’s cultural center.
The hotel includes a Social Hub with Italian restaurant, a fully equipped gym, a modern meeting room and philarmonic halls and zenith concert venues, and over 131 rooms, which gives a brilliant opportunity to explore Paris.
TRIBE Montpellier Gare Sud de France, France: This hotel is based further from the city centre, but is easy to reach via the Montpellier Sud de France train station. With 120 rooms, and a TRIBE restaurant, the hotel also includes a rooftop bar and swimming pool.
TRIBE Reims Centre, France: This hotel is one of the many TRIBE Redesigns and will be located right in the heart of the Champagne capital of France, Reims. With 92 guest rooms, the hotel will also feature a restaurant, meeting rooms and provide a rooftop terrace boasting beautiful views of the Reims Cathedral.
TRIBE Den Haag Centraal, Netherland: With a late 2025 opening, this is the only design hotel in featuring business oriented meeting rooms along with 159 guest rooms focused on leisure.
From the hotel’s rooftop bar, guests will enjoy breathtaking views of The Spui Square.
TRIBE Ljubljana, Slovenia: This hotel is expected to open in 2027 and will be the first hotel of the brand in Slovenia. It will be design driven, integrating the vibrancy of the city. The hotel will be centrally located and will have particular design features inspired by the city’s rich culture and history.
TRIBE Porto Gaia, Portugal: Scheduled for 2027, this hotel will serve as a stylish and functional TRIBE brand hotel in the dynamic Porto city, merging modern design and local cultural influences. The hotel will be located in a great area for exploring Porto’s rich history and wine culture.
TRIBE Rostock, Germany: Scheduled to open in 2028, the hotel will infuse new life into Germany’s Baltic coast. The property will have 157 rooms, a rooftop bar, and extensive meeting spaces, including an 115 m² auditorium which will elegantly host both business and leisure events.
Sustainability and Community Focus
Eco-friendly operations is at the core of the brand, and as part of its sustainability strategy many TRIBE hotels in Europe are pursuing BREEAM certification, reflecting the brand’s dedication to sustainability.
While sustaining ecological and environmental efforts in the hospitality industry, the hotel still guarantees that guests can relish on a cozy and a stylish stay.
What is TRIBE USPs for European Visitors
TRIBE Hotels is making business travel easier with their smart, design-forward hotel offering that includes a TRIBE branded restaurant. Each hotel includes high-speed internet and self-service kiosks, making it more efficient for business guests, and has flexible workstations. Every TRIBE hotel has a Social Hub, a shared space that combines work, leisure, and social activities in an engaging atmosphere. Guests can have a walk in the dynamic settings and relish healthy meals inspired from the local cuisine at TRIBE Table.
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