India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has released a preliminary report detailing the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171, which occurred in June. This report indicates that the fuel supply to the engines was unexpectedly cut off shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London, lost control and crashed, resulting in the loss of all lives on board except for one passenger.
According to the report obtained by CNN, the cockpit's fuel control switches were flipped, leading to a critical fuel starvation of the aircraft's engines. Investigators successfully extracted data from the black boxes, including an impressive 49 hours of flight data and two hours of cockpit audio, which captured the moments leading up to the crash. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had reached an airspeed of 180 knots when both fuel cutoff switches were moved from the RUN to the CUTOFF position, one second apart from each other.
The cockpit voice recording revealed a concerning exchange between the pilots. One pilot questioned the other about the cutoff action, to which the second pilot denied any involvement. Just moments later, the switches were repositioned back to their intended state, and the engines were in the process of reigniting when the aircraft tragically crashed.
On the Boeing 787, the fuel cutoff switches are strategically placed between the two pilots' seats, situated just behind the throttle levers. They feature metal protection bars and a locking mechanism specifically designed to prevent accidental operation. The preliminary report also noted that airport surveillance captured the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine, an emergency power source, during the plane's initial climb after takeoff.
As the aircraft began losing altitude, it crossed the airport perimeter wall, prompting a distress call from the cockpit. “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY,” one pilot exclaimed, but the air traffic controller received no response before witnessing the plane crash into the distance.
According to CNN safety analyst David Soucie, the fuel cutoff switches are designed to be intentionally operated, making instances of all switches being turned off accidentally extremely rare. “Over the years, these switches have been enhanced to prevent accidental movement, and they don’t operate automatically,” Soucie explained.
The captain of flight AI171 was a seasoned 56-year-old male with over 15,000 flight hours, while the first officer was a 32-year-old male with more than 3,400 hours of flying experience. Investigators confirmed that all equipment settings recovered from the wreckage were typical for takeoff conditions. The aircraft’s fuel quality was deemed satisfactory, and no significant bird activity was noted along the flight path.
Furthermore, the take-off weight was within permissible limits, and the aircraft was free from any “Dangerous Goods.” The flaps were correctly set at a 5-degree position for takeoff, and the landing gear lever was confirmed to be in the down position. The left engine had been installed on March 26, while the right engine was installed on May 1.
Air India flight AI171 took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on June 12. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was destined for London Gatwick, with an expected arrival time of 6:25 p.m. local time (1:25 p.m. ET). Air India reported that there were 242 individuals, including passengers and crew members, on board, comprising 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
Tragically, the crash also resulted in casualties on the ground, with the aircraft colliding into the BJ Medical College and Hospital hostel, leading to a total of 260 fatalities according to the report. Air India acknowledged receipt of the preliminary report and reiterated its commitment to cooperating with ongoing investigations.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Air India expressed its condolences, saying, “Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.”
This developing story will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
