Tragedy in Ahmedabad: Preliminary Findings on Air India Flight AI171 (Boeing 787‑8)
✈️ Tragedy in Ahmedabad: Preliminary Findings on Air India Flight AI171 (Boeing 787‑8)
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner registered VT‑ANB, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport en route to London Gatwick. The catastrophe claimed 260 lives—241 onboard and 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.
🧭 What We Know So Far – Key Preliminary Insights
1. Fuel Cutoff Switches Activated
The AAIB’s 15-page preliminary report reveals that mere seconds after reaching 180 knots and liftoff, both engine fuel control switches flipped from “RUN” to “CUTOFF”, cutting off fuel supply and thrust .
2. Brief Recovery Attempt
Within seconds, investigators found both switches moved back to “RUN.” One engine briefly restarted—but with insufficient thrust and altitude, the aircraft tragically crashed into a BJ Medical College hostel .
3. Cockpit Confusion
Cockpit voice recordings captured a tense exchange:
“Why did you cut off the fuel?”
“I did not do it.”
Neither pilot admitted to moving the switches .
4. Safeguards vs. Possibility of Malfunction
These switches incorporate safety locks to prevent accidental activation. Investigators have not yet determined whether the movement was intentional, inadvertent, or due to mechanical failure .
⏳ Timeline in Brief
• 08:07:37 UTC: Takeoff roll begins
• 08:08:39 UTC: Aircraft lifts off
• ~08:08:42 UTC: Switches transition to “CUTOFF”
• ~08:08:47 UTC: Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deploys as engines lose power
• ~08:08:52 UTC: Switches moved back to “RUN”; engine relight begins
• ~08:08:56 UTC: Second switch restored
• ~08:09 UTC: Aircraft crashes
🛬 Investigation Status & Ongoing Questions
• Why did the switches move?
• The AAIB will examine maintenance history, mechanical integrity, and cockpit ergonomics.
• FAA Bulletin & Inspections
• A 2018 FAA bulletin cited concerns over potential locking mechanism disengagement on Boeing 787s. It recommended inspecting switch locks, though this wasn't deemed mandatory. There’s no record of Air India conducting these inspections on VT‑ANB .
• Pilot Error vs. Technical Fault
• Bodies like the Airline Pilots’ Association of India argue deriving presumptions of pilot error from the preliminary report is premature .
• Black Box Analysis Pending
• While both flight recorders were recovered and data extraction has begun, the detailed CVR transcript is not yet public.
🎯 Implications for Aviation Safety
• Training & Procedures: Crew protocols for managing fuel-switch anomalies may come under review.
• Design Integrity: The effectiveness of locking mechanisms and switch placement on the Boeing 787 could be scrutinized.
• Fleet-Wide Assessments: DGCA has already mandated enhanced inspections across Air India’s entire 787 fleet .
• Operator & OEM Accountability: While no systemic airworthiness directives have been issued yet, manufacturers like Boeing and GE are cooperating with the probe .
🕯 Voices from the Tragedy
• Victims’ Families: Many have criticized the preliminary report as “vague” or “biased,” calling for deeper transparency .
• Civil Aviation Minister’s Plea: Murlidhar Mohol stressed that premature conclusions be avoided until the final AAIB report is released .
🔍 What Lies Ahead
The final AAIB report, expected within the next 9–12 months, will aim to determine:
• The root cause behind the fuel cutoff switch movement
• Whether design, mechanical, or human factors played a role
• Recommended safety measures and operational directives
📝 Conclusion
The preliminary report on Air India Flight AI171 exposes a chilling failure in mid-air: a simultaneous fuel cutoff that neither pilot claims responsibility for. With only half a story told, pressing questions linger on cockpit design, switch reliability, crew training, and delayed maintenance. The aviation community awaits the full findings—hoping they yield hard lessons to prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy.
