Investigators Reveal Fuel Cutoff as Cause of Fatal Air India 171 Crash
Investigators Reveal Fuel Cutoff as Cause of Fatal Air India 171 Crash
A preliminary report has concluded that a deliberate cutoff of the fuel supply to its engines caused the Air India flight 171 crash last month, killing 260 people. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025.
According to the report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), obtained by CNN, the fuel control switches in the cockpit were intentionally flipped from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ position, starving the engines. Data recovered from the aircraft’s black box recorders, including 49 hours of flight data and two hours of cockpit audio, provided critical insights. The report notes that as the aircraft reached an airspeed of 180 knots, both engines’ fuel cutoff switches were transitioned within one second of each other.
A chilling detail from the cockpit voice recording reveals one pilot questioning the other about the cutoff, with the second pilot denying the action. Although the switches were subsequently reversed to the ‘RUN’ position, and the engines began their power-up sequence, the aircraft crashed before full recovery. Investigators confirmed that the fuel cutoff switches on a Boeing 787 are protected by a metal bar and a locking mechanism, designed to prevent accidental activation.
Airport footage corroborated the report, showing the Ram Air Turbine, an emergency power source, deployed during the initial climb. The aircraft then rapidly lost altitude before impacting the ground near the airport perimeter wall. Aviation safety analyst David Soucie emphasized the extreme rarity of all fuel switches being turned off accidentally, stating they are designed for intentional movement and have been continuously improved to prevent inadvertent operation.
The report also detailed that various equipment settings, fuel quality, takeoff weight, and flap settings were normal for takeoff. The crash, which claimed the lives of 242 passengers and crew members, including 169 Indian and 53 British nationals, also resulted in fatalities on the ground as the plane struck a hospital hostel. Air India has acknowledged receipt of the preliminary report and reaffirmed its commitment to cooperate with authorities and provide support to those affected by the tragedy.
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