• A preliminary investigation points to captain's actions regarding fuel switches in Air India crash.
• Recordings reveal a confusion in the cockpit immediately before the crash.
• No conclusive evidence yet regarding pilot errors, according to investigators.

A preliminary investigation into the June 12 crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner has shifted focus towards the actions of the plane's captain, Sumeet Sabharwal. Reports indicate that a cockpit recording reveals a dialogue between Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder shortly after takeoff, where Kunder questioned Sabharwal about why he turned the engine fuel switches to the "cutoff" position. This move, as detailed by sources familiar with the situation, might have been a critical factor leading to the crash that resulted in the loss of 260 lives, according to SCMP and HuffPost.

Investigators noted that the confusion in the cockpit escalated right before the crash, with the first officer expressing panic while the captain appeared calm. The Wall Street Journal's coverage highlighted that the cockpit exchange showed a moment of crisis when Kunder questioned the fuel switch cutoff. While this critical moment was captured, the initial reports did not clarify who among the pilots turned the switches off, raising further questions, as reported by India Times and Dawn.

Despite the emerging evidence and focus on the captain's actions, officials have cautioned against reaching hasty conclusions regarding the crash's causes. The chief of India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigative process, asserting that premature narratives should be avoided, which aligns with statements made by the AAIB earlier regarding the integrity of the investigation, according to Channel News Asia.