Experienced Pilot Captain RS Sandhu Joins Air India Crash Probe

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has enlisted veteran pilot Captain RS Sandhu to serve as a domain expert in the ongoing investigation into the Air India Boeing 787‑8 crash near Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, which tragically claimed 260 lives. Captain Sandhu, a former director of operations for Air India and designated Boeing 787‑8 examiner, is expected to lend his extensive expertise to the five‑member probe team.

Sandhu is widely respected within aviation circles. Having served Air India for nearly 39 years, he personally took delivery of the ill fated aircraft, registrar VT‑ANB in 2013. He also led the integration team during Tata Group’s airline consolidation and currently heads the aviation consultancy Aviazione.

Pilot unions had been vocal about the need for pilot representation in the investigation. The Airline Pilots’ Association of India and the Federation of India Pilots argued that subject matter expertise was vital for credibility. Their concerns prompted the inclusion of Captain Sandhu, who accepted the AAIB chief’s invitation to join the panel.

The probe team, headed by Chief Investigator Sanjay Kumar Singh, also includes investigators Jasbir Singh Larhga, Vipin Venu Varakoth, Veeraragavan K and Vaishnav Vijayakumar. The preliminary report released on 12 July noted the involvement of domain specialists from fields such as engineering, aviation medicine, psychology and flight recorder analysis.

The AAIB’s initial findings attributed the crash to the fuel cut off of both engines within seconds of take off. Cockpit voice transcripts indicate that First Officer Clive Kunder questioned Captain Sumeet Sabharwal about the fuel switch operation, while Sabharwal maintained he had not engaged them. However, the AAIB has not attributed agency or intent, and warned against premature speculation.

Insiders confirmed that Captain Sandhu is now reviewing technical aspects of Boeing 787 operations, including control switch functionality, maintenance history and standard procedural safeguards. His insights are expected to strengthen the quality and depth of the ongoing inquiry.

An official noted: “There may be a few more domain experts, including from engineering, added to the panel in the coming days”. The AAIB has also affirmed its prerogative to include experts as deemed necessary.

The investigation, led by Sanjay Kumar Singh, continues. The preliminary report triggered intense scrutiny from aviation experts and pilot unions, who complained about ambiguous timelines and a lack of direct attribution in the transcript.

The integration of Captain Sandhu into the team reflects AAIB’s attempt to bolster technical rigour and transparency. The full report, still under development, is not expected until late 2026. In the meantime, investigators and aviation specialists continue to examine every facet of the incident to establish the precise sequence of events leading to the tragedy.