Air India Crash Investigation Focused On If Pilot Turned Off Fuel To Engines On Purpose
Plus: Could TSA Liquid Rule Be The Next To Go?
Good evening,
It’s a bird, it’s a plane… no it’s a Superman reboot that earned $217 million globally on its opening weekend. 🦸🏻♂️
I finally had the chance to see James Gunn’s Superman last night in a packed IMAX cinema — just as nature, and the filmmakers, intended.
Criticism: Some – including Dean Cain, who formerly played Superman in the TV series – have called Gunn’s Superman too “woke.” Cain referenced an interview Gunn gave where he said Superman was about “an immigrant that came from other places” and was “the story of America.” 🇺🇸
The film centers on Americans doubting David Corenswet’s Superman’s intentions as an “alien” on Earth, sent from the planet Krypton. The storyline lands amid nationwide protests against the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
But some say Superman has always had a political streak. The character was the brainchild of two children of Jewish immigrants living in poverty, who created the comic books while Hitler was coming into power overseas.
Another plot line involves Superman interfering in the politics of Boravia, a fictional Soviet-esque country. Superman is against its invasion of Jarhanpur, a poorer country resembling a Middle Eastern nation. Boravia claims to be invading Jarhanpur to free the country from its oppressive government, when in reality, it just wants land.
Some viewers have noticed some parallels with the Russia-Ukraine and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, which Gunn has denied.
Politics aside: The film’s real star was a caped white mutt named Krypto. The dog was such a hit with audiences that Google searches for “adopt a dog near me” surged 513% after the film’s opening weekend. 🐶
As for me? I thought Superman was entertaining, but I thought Gunn’s script was a little stereotypical. Still, the IMAX effects transported me “up, up, and away” from a muggy Manhattan heatwave and into a cool, vibrant metropolis.
Sam
Super-Associate Producer
Correction from yesterday’s newsletter: We got a little ahead of ourselves yesterday, when we published that the Senate had already passed the $9 billion in cuts to previously allocated funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid. That was actually a procedural vote; but early this morning, the Senate officially passed the measure in a 51–48 vote. The House could vote on it as soon as this evening.
🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
Air India Black-Box Recording Reveals Captain Likely Cut Fuel Switches Off, Killing 260
Black-box voice recordings from the cockpit of Air India Flight 171, which crashed and killed 260 people on June 12, indicate that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal likely turned off the switches controlling fuel to the plane's engines.
In the recordings, you can hear Clive Kunder, the younger co-pilot who was actively flying the plane at the time, questioning why the fuel had been cut off.
Sabharwal denies doing so, but remains calm despite the obvious repercussions.
He then switches the fuel back on about 10 seconds after it turned off — too late for the plane to recover. Experts note that it is a 3-step process to turn the switches from "RUN" to "CUTOFF," a safeguard that makes an accidental switch unlikely.
The crash killed all but one of the 242 people on board, along with 19 people on the ground.
INSIDE THE FLIGHT
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed approximately 32 seconds after takeoff from the Ahmedabad airport in India.
Sabharwal, 56, had been flying since the early 1990s, inspired by his father who served as a bureaucrat in India’s civil aviation ministry.
He trained at a prestigious flight school in India. One of his classmates and friends, Kapil Kohal, told the Wall Street Journal that Sabharwal was polite, never cursed, never drank alcohol, and spoke softly.
Kunder, in his early 30s, attended flight school in Florida at 19 years old and was hired by Air India in 2017.
The two pilots' exchange after takeoff was noted in a preliminary report released last week by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The report did not identify which pilot made each statement, nor whether the actions were accidental or deliberate.
While the report did not rule out design flaws, it also noted no immediate actions for the aircraft or engine manufacturers, Boeing and General Electric. The report noted the involvement of medical and psychology experts in the ongoing investigation.
WHAT’S NEXT
The early findings have led some U.S. officials to privately say there should be a criminal review of the events. U.S. officials who have been briefed on the investigation have reportedly expressed frustration over delays in the release of crash data.
In response to reporting on the black-box recordings, the AAIB said Thursday, "We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process," adding that, “at this stage, it is too early to reach to any definite conclusions.”
It can take years to fully investigate plane crashes, and new findings can contradict earlier reports.
🚨 ONE THING THAT’S CHANGING
UK Plans To Lower Voting Age To 16 By Next General Election
The United Kingdom plans to lower its voting age from 18 to 16 by the next general election in 2029, British officials announced Thursday. The move would fulfill a Labour Party campaign promise after the party returned to power last July.
"They're old enough to go out to work, they're old enough to pay taxes ... and I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on, which way the government should go," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
His party framed the change as a boost to public trust in democracy, allowing about 1.6 million 16- and 17-year-olds in Britain — which has a population of roughly 68 million — to vote.
THE DISSENTERS
Opponents point to research about brain development to support their stance that you should be 18 to vote. They also refer to other significant milestones – for example, joining the military and buying alcohol – which you must be 18 years old to do in the UK.
While the brain continues developing into a person’s mid-to-late 20s, particularly the prefrontal cortex (which helps with planning and decision-making), some research suggests 16-year-olds generally possess the cognitive maturity to vote responsibly.
A study published in 2014 found that voters under 18 in Austria — the first European country to lower the voting age to 16 — had turnout levels similar to older Austrians, arguing that younger voting could predict stronger future civic engagement.
Both houses of Parliament still need to approve the measure before it becomes law.
STATE OF PLAY AROUND THE 🌍
Lowering the voting age remains a global debate. While most countries set the minimum at 18, the UK would join Brazil, Austria, Cuba, Nicaragua, Argentina, and Ecuador in allowing 16-year-olds to vote. Some EU countries — including Belgium and Germany — have also lowered the voting age to 16 for European Parliament elections.
Efforts to lower the voting age have gained some traction in the U.S., with nine municipalities lowering the voting age to 16 for local elections. Newark, New Jersey, along with Berkeley and Oakland, California, permit younger voters to participate in school board elections.
Become Invisible Online 🫥
It seems like no matter what we’re doing online, someone is always trying to get hold of our personal information. From companies tracking your browsing habits to internet service providers logging your activity, it often feels like your data is up for grabs and being sold to the highest bidder.
That’s where Surfshark VPN comes in. It’s an easy-to-use app that lets you navigate the internet privately, keeping prying eyes away from your personal data. With just a simple login, Surfshark VPN encrypts your activity and hides your IP address so you can browse safely — whether you’re at home or using public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, and cafes.
Another tip? Use the coupon code “monews” for an extra 4 months free at Surfshark.
🚨 ONE THING WE’RE HOPING FOR
Could Flyers Soon Be Allowed To Bring More Than 3.4 oz Of Liquids On Board?
Just a week after announcing an end to the post-9/11 shoe removal policy, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested Wednesday that the 3.4 oz liquid limit through security may soon be reconsidered 🙌.
“The liquids I’m questioning,” Noem said at a Washington event Wednesday hosted by NewsNation and The Hill. “That may be the next big announcement.”
The 3.4 oz liquid rule was introduced in 2006 after a foiled UK terror plot involving liquid explosives.
Why now? Noem pointed to new TSA tech and “layered security” that could allow changes while maintaining safety. However, no timeline has been announced for an update.
Just think of all the sunscreen, face lotion, and drinks that could be saved.
⏳ THE SPEED READ
🚨NATION
White House releases Trump health update after speculation over swollen legs, bruised hands (FOX)
Senate passes Trump’s PBS/NPR cuts amid allegations of bias (MO NEWS)
Maurene Comey, prosecutor in Diddy & Epstein cases & daughter of ex-FBI boss, fired by DOJ (MO NEWS)
U.S. set to destroy 500+ tons of expired foreign food aid (MO NEWS)
DOJ says ex-officer convicted in Breonna Taylor raid should get one day in jail (AXIOS)
Attorney General Bondi visits Alcatraz as Trump floats idea of reopening the former federal prison (CNN)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
Pope expresses sadness after Israeli strike on Gaza church kills three (BBC)
Ukraine to boost domestic arms production to counter Russia’s invasion, says Zelensky (AP)
Dozens killed as massive fire rips through shopping mall in eastern Iraq (CNN)
Lebanese man convicted in slaying of Israeli diplomat to be freed from French prison (TIMES OF ISRAEL)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
Uber strikes six-year robotaxi deal with Lucid, invests $300 million in EV company (CNBC)
FDA reverses ban on sale of Juul e-cigarettes (THE HILL)
Babies made using three people's DNA are born free of hereditary disease (BBC)
Astronomers detect most massive black hole collision to date (CNN)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Connie Francis, 'Pretty Little Baby' singer, dead at 87 (FOX)
Flames engulf Tomorrowland’s main stage 2 days before festival starts (WASHINGTON POST)
Chargers' Mike Williams, former No. 7 overall pick, retires from NFL at age 30 (CBS SPORTS)
‘Lilo & Stitch’ becomes Hollywood’s first movie to hit $1 billion in 2025 (VARIETY)
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it…Whoops! Last night at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, a workplace affair was exposed — thanks to a jumbotron “kiss cam.”
The couple, identified as Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot, the head of HR at his AI company, were caught smiling and swaying in the crowd; but they quickly turned away and covered their faces when they realized they were on camera.
Neither Byron nor Cabot has commented publicly.
Chris Martin, lead singer of the band, clocked it during the concert, saying to the crowd, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
Online reaction continues to grow, with the original TikTok garnering more than 3 million likes and sparking further scrutiny into the couple’s professional and personal lives.