Air India
By Chris Williams
A preliminary investigation into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 has uncovered that the fuel control switches for both engines were flipped from the “run” to the “cutoff” position just seconds after takeoff, leading to a sudden loss of power and the devastating accident that claimed 260 lives.
The report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, released on 12 July 2025, sheds light on the final moments of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner journey from Ahmedabad to London, while emphasising that the probe is ongoing with no conclusions or blame assigned yet.
The incident occurred on 12 June 2025, when Air India Flight 171, operating a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered as VT-ANB, departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, bound for London Gatwick. The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, lifted off at around 13:39 IST (08:09 UTC) and achieved a speed of 287 km/h during initial climb, reaching a maximum recorded speed of 334 km/h. However, within seconds, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec, starving the engines of fuel and causing a rapid descent.
According to the 15-page preliminary report, the cockpit voice recorder captured a tense exchange between the pilots: “In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.” The switches then returned to the “RUN” position, and the engines appeared to begin regaining power, but it was too late. The aircraft quickly lost altitude, prompting one pilot to transmit “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” to air traffic control. Controllers inquired about the issue but soon witnessed the crash and alerted emergency services.
The plane was airborne for less than 40 seconds—some accounts specify 98 seconds from takeoff to impact—before plummeting into a crowded residential area near a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad. All but one of the 242 people on board perished, along with 19 individuals on the ground, totalling 260 fatalities. Initial reports from Gujarat health officials pegged the death toll at 279, but forensic experts later revised it downward after identifying multiple scattered and badly burnt remains as belonging to fewer victims. The passengers included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, reflecting the flight’s international route.
One miraculous survivor emerged from the wreckage: a British citizen who was seen walking away from the debris relatively unharmed and has since been discharged from hospital. Dozens more on the ground sustained injuries, with emergency responders rushing to the scene amid chaos from the impact, which destroyed parts of the hostel and nearby structures.
The AAIB report, mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization to be submitted within 30 days of the accident, does not pinpoint a cause but narrows focus on the fuel switch movement. It references a 2018 US Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB NM-18-33), which flagged the “potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature” on various Boeing models, including the 787. This feature, using part number 4TL837-3D, is designed to prevent accidental activation—switches must be pulled up to unlock before flipping—but could disengage unintentionally due to vibration, bumps, or manufacturing variability.
Air India informed investigators that it did not perform the suggested inspections outlined in the SAIB, as they were “advisory and not mandatory.” The airline confirmed compliance with all airworthiness directives and alert service bulletins for the aircraft, and no defects related to the fuel control switch had been reported since 2023. The report states there were “no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers,” indicating no immediate technical faults with the General Electric engines or Boeing airframe were identified.
Specialist aviation website The Air Current, citing sources familiar with the probe, reported earlier in the week that investigators had “narrowed its focus to the movement of the engine fuel switches,” noting a full analysis could take months or longer, with the possibility of shifting priorities. The fuel switches’ design, including the locking mechanism, is similar across Boeing models, and while not deemed an “unsafe condition” warranting mandatory fixes, the bulletin advised checks to avoid inadvertent cutoff during flight.
Boeing issued a statement pledging continued support: “We will continue to support the investigation and our customer, adding our thoughts remain with those affected by the disaster.” Air India echoed cooperation, stating it is “working closely with stakeholders, including regulators,” and “We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.” US and British investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and Air Accidents Investigation Branch have participated, given the aircraft’s American manufacture and international victims.
This crash adds to a string of aviation tragedies in India, where rapid air travel growth—Air India operates over 100 Boeing 787s in its fleet—has heightened scrutiny on safety protocols. Past incidents, like the 2020 Air India Express crash in Kozhikode that killed 21 due to pilot error and poor weather, underscore human factors in accidents. Experts suggest the switches might have been bumped accidentally during early climb turbulence or a cockpit distraction, though deliberate action hasn’t been ruled out.
The ongoing investigation seeks additional evidence from stakeholders, including flight data recorder analysis, witness statements, and maintenance records. Families of victims, many from diverse backgrounds, continue to mourn, with support from airlines and governments. In Gujarat, forensic teams worked tirelessly to identify remains using DNA, reducing the initial toll and providing closure amid grief.
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