India, Feb. 12 -- A new international media report has introduced a controversial angle to the ongoing investigation into the deadly Air India Flight AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, suggesting that the disaster may not have been caused by a technical malfunction but by a possible "intentional act."

The claim, published by Italian daily Corriere della Sera, has not been independently verified.

Indian aviation authorities have yet to issue their final conclusions, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) continues its formal probe.

According to the Italian newspaper, which cited two sources familiar with discussions between Indian and US officials, investigators are examining whether one of the pilots may have deliberately switche...