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Female Engineer Who Claims Responsibility for Air India Crash Has Been Arrested
The tragedy of Air India Flight 171 has grown into one of the most painful and controversial aviation disasters in modern India. The loss of more than 241 people on board, along with others on the ground, continues to haunt families and communities. While aviation experts probe the technical mysteries behind the incident, an extraordinary twist has entered the story.
A female engineer from Chennai, identified as Rene Joshilda, has been arrested after claiming responsibility for the deadly crash. Authorities, however, state that her claim is false and part of a disturbing sequence of hoax messages.
This breaking development has shocked many, intensifying grief and outrage at a time when investigators are still piecing together the last moments of the doomed aircraft.
The Catastrophe That Shook the Nation
On the morning of 12 June 2025, Air India Flight 171 departed from Ahmedabad airport, destined for London. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was filled with passengers ranging from students and business professionals to families heading abroad.
Just minutes after takeoff, the unimaginable occurred. The jet plunged out of the sky, bursting into flames as it tore through residential neighborhoods near the city. Emergency responders described a scene of chaos, with houses burning and wreckage strewn across streets.
Every person aboard lost their life. Hospitals nearby received dozens of burn victims from the ground, while frantic relatives filled waiting rooms, hoping for survivors. The toll surpassed 241 confirmed deaths, making it one of the darkest disasters in Indian aviation history.
Witnesses recalled hearing a deafening noise before spotting fire raining down. “It was as if the sky exploded,” one survivor on the ground told reporters. The image of the burning aircraft etched itself into national memory overnight.
Early Clues From Investigators
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) quickly began its probe. Flight recorders, recovered from the debris, revealed troubling information. Both engine fuel control switches, which regulate engine power, had been moved from RUN to CUTOFF seconds after takeoff.
That action effectively starved the engines of fuel, triggering catastrophic thrust loss. Within less than half a minute, both engines failed.
Audio transcripts revealed a chilling exchange in the cockpit. One pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” His colleague responded, “I did not.” Despite their frantic efforts to reset the switches to RUN, the aircraft had already lost the critical altitude needed for recovery.
These switches are designed with safety locks to prevent accidental movement. Investigators confirmed that both were functional. The possibility that both shifted together without input is seen as highly unlikely. Maintenance records indicated no previous faults.
Experts are left grappling with unanswered questions. Was it pilot error? Could a hidden mechanical fault exist? Or was something more complex at play?
Government Reaction to Preliminary Findings
The Civil Aviation Ministry held a press briefing soon after the report was released. Officials warned against drawing premature conclusions.
“This is a preliminary finding. Investigations are still in progress. Only the final report will reveal the truth,” a ministry spokesperson said.
Global regulators, including the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, have been alerted. The Boeing Company, manufacturer of the 787, has also been asked to cooperate fully.
Meanwhile, families of victims have raised concerns that officials are not sharing enough details. Protests have erupted in Gujarat and Delhi, demanding transparency, accountability, and immediate compensation.
The Arrest That Stunned India
As investigators worked on the technical side, police in Chennai uncovered a bizarre twist. Cybercrime officers traced a series of hoax bomb threats sent to schools, hospitals, and institutions across multiple states.
Among them was a shocking email claiming, “We crashed the Air India plane.” The message was sent to BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, just miles from the crash site.
The trail led to Rene Joshilda, a 34-year-old robotics engineer employed at Deloitte. She was taken into custody and charged under multiple criminal statutes.
Her Motive: Revenge and Obsession
Authorities revealed a disturbing motive. Joshilda was allegedly driven by unrequited love. Investigators said she developed feelings for a male colleague who did not reciprocate. In response, she devised a plan to frame him by sending threats in his name.
Her messages referred to bomb attacks, schools, and even the Air India crash, designed to cast suspicion on her colleague.
“She wanted to destroy his life,” a senior police official explained. “The claim about the crash was part of her broader campaign of deception.”
Investigators stressed that no evidence connects her to the actual downing of Flight 171. The crash remains under technical investigation.
Public Response: Anger and Disbelief
News of her arrest has sparked outrage nationwide. Families of victims, already devastated, condemned her actions. “It is cruel beyond words to claim responsibility for the deaths of our children for such selfish reasons,” said one grieving father.
Mental health professionals noted the psychological toll of such hoaxes. Exploiting a national tragedy for personal revenge has been described as deeply unethical and damaging to collective healing.
On social media, hashtags calling for stricter punishment for hoax threats trended for days. Some voices also raised questions about mental health care and the pressures of modern work culture.
Legal Proceedings and Possible Punishment
Joshilda now faces charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, including criminal intimidation, public mischief, and impersonation.
Prosecutors are seeking extended custody to analyze her digital devices and trace the scale of her operations. If convicted, she could face long prison terms.
Legal experts suggest that her case may inspire new laws to deter cyber hoaxes, particularly those linked to terrorism or aviation tragedies.
Families Still Waiting for Real Answers
For relatives of Flight 171 victims, the arrest has provided no closure. Many see it as a distraction.
“We are losing hope. Instead of telling us why the plane fell, they give us stories about hoaxes,” said one mother who lost her teenage daughter.
Advocacy groups demand that focus remain on the crash investigation. Compensation, they argue, is being delayed while the spotlight shifts to unrelated arrests.
Boeing in the Hot Seat Again
The investigation has reignited scrutiny of Boeing. The manufacturer has faced repeated crises, including the 737 MAX grounding in 2019. Now, questions about the 787 Dreamliner’s fuel systems threaten to erode public confidence further.
Aviation analysts highlight that the switches in question are rarely touched during flight. For both to cut off fuel simultaneously is unprecedented. Some blame possible crew error, while others suspect overlooked design flaws.
Boeing issued a statement promising cooperation with all authorities. It also offered condolences to victims’ families and pledged to review relevant systems. Critics, however, remain unconvinced, pointing to past failures.
International Aviation Community Reacts
Airlines across Asia and Europe have responded cautiously. Some have introduced additional crew briefings on engine failure procedures in 787 aircraft. Flight unions in India called for psychological support and enhanced simulator training.
Passenger advocacy groups stressed the importance of transparent reporting. “Passengers have a right to know whether the planes they board are safe. Anything less undermines global aviation trust,” said a London-based advocate.
Unresolved Questions Loom Large
The preliminary findings and arrest leave several issues unanswered:
What caused both switches to move?
Could a hidden mechanical defect override safety mechanisms?
Was there any lapse in crew handling?
How soon will families receive fair compensation?
Will Boeing be held liable if design flaws are proven?
Until the final AAIB report is released, speculation will continue. Experts caution against rushing to judgment but admit the mystery is unusual and troubling.
A Painful Journey Toward Closure
The story of Flight 171 is now a layered tragedy. On one side are the grieving families of more than 241 lost souls, desperate for answers. On the other is the shocking arrest of a woman who falsely claimed responsibility for the crash.
Her actions, rooted in personal revenge, have amplified the emotional burden of an already traumatized nation. The official probe continues to unravel the real cause, but closure remains distant.
For now, India mourns. Candles burn nightly in Ahmedabad, prayers rise in churches, temples, and mosques, and the memory of Flight 171 lingers as a reminder of both human fragility and the urgent need for truth.
What do you think about this news. Drop your comment.
Fake …! Just to divert the main stream… Need more deeper investigation to catch the main culprits.. please … my humble request to the investigating authorities to be very very honest and bring justice for the victims and their families.
Thank you.
She didn’t do it but claimed responsibility to get to someone
Justice
Justice
First check her mental status and take up necessary as per law’s.
She should be sent to the medical check up/investigation rather than custody!
It was a tragedy we can not escape from identification of actual culprit
It should be open to worldwide
Pray to lord for real justice to those lives which are no more now
It was/is impossible for both of even one of the switches to be off or to moved to the off position.(in this case) The moment the engine/engines stops, there is no acceleration and the force of gravity will immediately bring the plane down. This plane did not glide down, instead it had problems with lifting up. In Nov 2019, I flew from Durban to Jhb to India, after a few minutes of leaving Durban we reached attitude. Both engines stopped, immediately the dropped down, people screamed, the engines started again and we moved forward, a few minutes later, the engines stopped again and the plane dropped again, this time with louder screams, the engines started again and we moved forward, after a few minutes,the engines stopped again, this time we were seeing land and the screams were even louder. The fourth time the engines started we were able to reach Jhb. The point of what I am saying is simple. If the final conclusion is the switches, then the design has not in-cooperated additional safety.
There has been no reported incident of any plane losing both engines three times during a flight. Give me your flight number / date
How is it possible? How can someone be this selfish!!!
This can’t be true there’s more to this story
A very good ploy to rejuvenate the laggard probers of the tragic plane crash.
at these days even if we travel with boats
Still we are not safe
Incompetentcy is so massive
You don’t know which move is the right one
any where every one should use their own judgment!!
Such a lengthy report. Point is: Did somebody cross check whether her unrequited lover had been booked in AHD-London flight. ?
I am surprised that we are running around a bush. If she has admitted then why waste time on manual investigation. Put her to lie detector test immediately and then proceed further.