On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just 30 seconds after takeoff, resulting in the tragic loss of 260 lives, including 241 passengers and crew on board and 19 people on the ground. Only one passenger miraculously survived. The preliminary report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on July 12, 2025, has brought to light a perplexing detail: the engine fuel control switches were moved to the “CUTOFF” position seconds after takeoff, starving the engines of fuel and triggering a catastrophic power loss. This article delves into the details of the preliminary findings, the role of the fuel control switches, the implications of the cockpit voice recordings, and the ongoing questions surrounding this aviation disaster.
The Crash and Initial Findings
The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off at approximately 08:08:39 UTC (13:38:09 IST) on June 12, 2025. According to the AAIB’s 15-page preliminary report, the aircraft reached a maximum airspeed of 180 knots at 08:08:42 UTC. Almost immediately afterward, the fuel control switches for Engine 1 and Engine 2 transitioned from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” position, with a one-second gap between the two actions. This caused both engines to lose power, leading to a rapid loss of altitude. The aircraft crashed into a medical hostel complex near the airport boundary, killing nearly all on board and several people on the ground.
The report highlights that the switches were moved back to the “RUN” position 10 seconds later for one engine and 14 seconds later for the other. At the crash site, both fuel control switches were found in the “RUN” position, and there were indications that one engine had begun to relight before the aircraft hit the ground. However, the low altitude and speed made recovery impossible. The deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency device to provide hydraulic power to control surfaces, further indicated a dual-engine failure, but it could not prevent the crash.
The Role of Fuel Control Switches
Fuel control switches on a Boeing 787 are critical components located below the thrust levers in the cockpit’s center console. These switches, which control the fuel supply to the engines, have two positions: “RUN” and “CUTOFF.” They are spring-loaded and equipped with a metal stop lock mechanism to prevent accidental movement. Moving a switch from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” stops the fuel flow to the engine, causing an immediate shutdown and loss of thrust. Conversely, moving the switch back to “RUN” initiates an automatic relight sequence to restore thrust by managing ignition and reintroducing fuel.
Under normal circumstances, these switches are only operated on the ground during engine start or shutdown procedures or in flight during emergencies, such as an engine fire or failure. Aviation experts, including U.S. safety expert John Cox, have emphasized that these switches cannot be accidentally moved. “You can’t bump them and they move,” Cox stated, noting that the effect of cutting off fuel is almost immediate. The deliberate nature of the switch operation has raised questions about why they were moved during a critical phase of flight.
Investigation Focus and Theories
The AAIB’s investigation has ruled out several potential causes, including bird strikes, fuel contamination, and mechanical or design issues with the Boeing 787 or its GE Aerospace GEnx-1B engines. The focus on the fuel control switches points to possible pilot error, though the report does not explicitly state this. Aviation experts have speculated that one pilot may have mistakenly toggled the wrong switch in response to a perceived issue, potentially shutting off fuel to the operational engine instead of addressing a malfunctioning one.
However, the low altitude of the aircraft—below 400 feet—makes such an action highly unusual, as pilots are trained to avoid manipulating fuel switches during takeoff unless absolutely necessary. Standard procedures for a dual-engine flameout involve toggling the switches from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” and back to “RUN” to attempt a restart, but this is typically done at higher altitudes. The Air India aircraft’s rapid descent left no time for recovery.
Another theory raised by experts involves the possibility of an issue with the fuel control switch mechanism itself. A 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bulletin noted potential disengagement of the fuel switch locking mechanism on some Boeing aircraft, which could theoretically allow unintended movement. However, the spring-loaded design and the one-second gap between the two switches being flipped suggest deliberate action rather than a mechanical fault.
Implications and Ongoing Questions
The preliminary irresistable raises more questions than it answers. Why were the fuel switches moved to “CUTOFF” during takeoff, a phase when maximum power is critical? Was it an intentional act, a misunderstanding between the pilots, or an unforeseen issue with the aircraft’s systems? The report’s findings have deepened the mystery, as the deliberate nature of the switch operation conflicts with the pilots’ apparent confusion captured on the CVR.
The investigation is ongoing, with the AAIB expected to release a final report in the coming months. The black boxes, which were undamaged and provided “good data,” will continue to be analyzed, alongside simulations conducted by Boeing to reconstruct the aircraft’s final moments. The absence of any reported emergency requiring an engine shutdown, such as a fire, further complicates the narrative.
Last Updated on: Saturday, July 12, 2025 11:37 am by Ventrapati Mahitha | Published by: Ventrapati Mahitha on Saturday, July 12, 2025 11:37 am | News Categories: News
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