Preliminary report finds unexplained fuel switch movement led to dual engine power loss, raising safety concerns for Boeing 787 operations and Air India’s maintenance standards.
New Delhi: 12 July 2025
A preliminary investigation into the devastating Air India Flight AI171 crash, which claimed 260 lives on June 12, has revealed that both engines failed after their fuel supply was mysteriously cut off, mere seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London, crashed into a residential building less than a minute later.
The CVR from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recorded a first officer urgently asking, “What did you cut off?” The second officer confusedly stating, “I didn’t.” The investigators determined both of the fuel control switches were switched to the ‘cutoff’ position, a normal position that is selected only in emergencies or when the aeroplane has landed safely. The report indicates that at least one engine attempted to regain some thrust for a brief period, which was not enough to maintain a flight path. The investigation rejected previous speculation regarding bird strikes, and attributed the primary cause to catastrophic systems failure or a potential design flaw. Importantly, in 2019 an FAA advisory flagged potential failure of similar fuel control systems in other Boeing aircraft, while nothing mandatory was put in place for Dreamliners.
The findings raise substantial concerns about protocols followed during flight, the continued maintenance of aircraft, and the standards pilots at the newly privatized Tata Group operated Air India are trained. The crash is the first fatal accident involving a 787 Dreamliner, and complicates the airline’s safety record and modernization efforts.
The final report, as is typical with complex aviation accidents, is not likely within a year for those waiting for definitive explanations, including the community of aviation practitioners and the bereaved families.
Also Read: Janhvi Kapoor Serves Wimbledon Glam in Custom Miu Miu Dress
