A preliminary report into the devastating crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad has revealed that both engines lost power seconds after takeoff due to an abrupt cutoff in fuel supply.
The finding, released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), sheds new light on the final moments of flight AI 171, which crashed on June 12, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground.
30 seconds from takeoff to disaster
According to the AAIB, the aircraft reached a speed of 180 knots shortly after leaving the runway.
Within seconds, the fuel control switches for both engines were moved from their normal “run” position to “cutoff,” starving the engines of fuel and causing a total loss of thrust.
Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” to which the second pilot replied, “I didn’t”.
The confusion in the cockpit was followed by frantic attempts to restore power.
About 10 seconds after the cutoff, the pilots moved the switches back to “run” and successfully relit both engines. However, only one engine responded fully, while the other failed to build up enough power to sustain flight.
A distress call—“mayday, mayday, mayday”—was issued just moments before the aircraft lost altitude and crashed into a densely populated district, striking a medical college hostel and erupting in flames.
No immediate fault found with Boeing or GE engines
The AAIB’s report emphasised that, at this stage, there is no evidence pointing to a design or manufacturing fault with the Boeing 787-8 aircraft or its GE GEnx-1B engines.
“At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers,” the report stated.
The investigation is focusing on why the fuel switches were moved to the cutoff.
The switches are equipped with safety mechanisms to prevent accidental activation, and the report notes that a 2018 FAA airworthiness bulletin warned of the possibility of inadvertent movement of these switches on Boeing aircraft, including the 787.
However, inspection for this potential fault was never made mandatory, and the Air India jet had not been checked for it.
Investigators probe pilot actions and experience
With no immediate technical fault identified, investigators are examining the actions of the flight crew.
The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had 8,200 and 1,100 hours of experience on the 787, respectively.
The probe will review their backgrounds, training, and the sequence of events in the cockpit.
Aerospace engineer and former fighter pilot Bjorn Fehrm commented on the unusual delay in returning the switches to the “run” position, stating, “I would never, ever wait 10 seconds to put them on again. I would put them on in a jiffy.”
India’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades
The crash of flight AI 171 is the worst aviation disaster in India in more than a decade and marks the first complete hull loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner globally.
The aircraft was bound for London Gatwick and was fully loaded with fuel.
Only one of the 242 people on board survived, and the crash claimed additional lives on the ground.
Eyewitnesses and video footage showed the plane taking off normally before suddenly losing altitude and crashing just outside the airport perimeter.
The Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency device that deploys during total power loss, was activated, further confirming the complete loss of engine thrust.
Investigation continues amid unanswered questions
The AAIB’s preliminary report is based on data from the cockpit voice recorder, digital flight data recorder, and evidence from the crash site.
The investigation will continue for several months, examining additional records, maintenance logs, and possible mechanical or human factors that might explain the fuel cutoff.
Boeing and GE Aerospace have not been implicated at this stage, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has referred all inquiries to Indian authorities.
Air India, now under Tata Group ownership, has not issued a detailed statement as the probe continues.
Key findings from the preliminary report
| Key event | Details |
|---|---|
| Takeoff speed | 180 knots reached before cutoff |
| Fuel cutoff | Both engine switches moved to “cutoff” within 1 second of each other |
| Pilot confusion | Cockpit voice: “Why did you cut off?” “I didn’t.” |
| Engine relight attempt | Both switches moved back to “run” after ~10 seconds |
| Engine response | One engine relit fully, the other failed to regain thrust |
| Crash timeline | Aircraft airborne for 30-32 seconds before crashing |
| Mayday call | Issued seconds before impact |
| Fatalities | 241 on board, 19 on ground |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (first total loss of type) |
| Current focus | Why fuel switches moved to cutoff; pilot actions; possible system issue |
Aviation safety and regulatory implications
The findings have raised concerns about cockpit ergonomics and the possibility of inadvertent switch movement.
The 2018 FAA bulletin regarding fuel switch locking mechanisms is now under renewed scrutiny, but no regulatory action has yet been taken.
The AAIB will continue to analyse whether human error, mechanical failure, or a combination of factors led to the tragedy.
The preliminary report on the Air India Boeing 787 crash indicates that a sudden and unexplained fuel cutoff to both engines was the immediate cause of the disaster.
With no evidence of sabotage or technical defect so far, the focus remains on the cockpit actions and the design of the fuel control system.
The world’s aviation community awaits the final report, which will seek to answer the lingering questions behind one of India’s most tragic air disasters.
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