Bringing the focus sharply on the actions of the cockpit crew during the final moments of the Air India AI-171 crash, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has accused the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of withholding crucial cockpit details that, according to the pilots’ body, indicate Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had taken control of the aircraft during the emergency and may have tried to steer it away from buildings before impact.In an email sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the AAIB and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday, FIP president Captain CS Randhawa claimed that physical evidence linked to Captain Sabharwal’s body, along with standard cockpit emergency protocols, raised serious questions over why the preliminary crash report allegedly omitted any reference to the transfer of controls inside the cockpit.The pilots’ body also renewed its demand for a judicial probe into the AI-171 crash, which claimed 261 lives, alleging that the investigation was “not in the right direction” and lacked “total transparency and accountability”.The letter referred to claims made by a relative of one of the deceased passengers who was present at the Ahmedabad mortuary after the crash.According to the communication, Romin Vohra allegedly saw Captain Sabharwal’s body “kept in one corner of the mortuary” while identifying his own family members.“He saw that the back of the body was burnt; however, the front part of the body was intact with the yolk of the aircraft in his hand. That clearly indicates that the correct protocols were followed,” the letter read.The FIP said the observation pointed towards Captain Sabharwal having control of the aircraft during the final moments of the crash.“When the First Officer (FO) is the Pilot Flying (PF), in case of an emergency the Pilot In Command (PIC) takes over the controls and becomes the PF. Also, while doing so the voice commands are given ‘I have the controls’ by the PIC and the FO will say, ‘You have the controls’. All commands are challenge and response in the cockpit,” the letter read.Questioning the contents of the AAIB’s preliminary report, the pilots’ body said it was “utmost surprising” that critical cockpit voice recorder (CVR) details were allegedly absent.“It is utmost surprising to note that that in the preliminary report the AAIB does not make a mention of the following: 1. CVR recording of handing/taking over 2. That the controls were with PIC,” the letter said.“The above clearly indicates that the PIC Capt Sabharwal had the controls at the time of crash and may have tried to clear the buildings while crashing. Very important info was not revealed by the AAIB,” it added.The FIP further alleged that despite repeated communications, concerns regarding the electrical systems of Boeing 787 aircraft and simulator verification of the crash sequence had not been adequately addressed.“Unfortunately till date AAIB has failed to investigate crash probe in the right direction,” the letter read. “The electrical systems of all B-787 must be checked thorough as has been suggested in many letters and mails from FIP,” the communication said.The pilots’ body further stressed that “it is very important that a simulator session be conducted to verify the timings given in the prelim report which should be in conformity with the technical manuals of the OEM”.“We are not sure if all the mails/letters by the FIP have been shared with the SME’s,” the letter added, raising questions over whether all concerns flagged by pilots had been placed before subject matter experts involved in the probe.The FIP reiterated its demand for transparency in the investigation and said all aspects linked to the crash must be examined thoroughly.“We once again reiterate and APPEAL that in the interest of SAFETY it is pertinent that TRUTH prevails from the AAIB crash probe after considering every aspect,” it added.