The crash of Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, on June 12, 2025, near Ahmedabad, India, has spurred intense scrutiny and debate within the aviation community. The incident, which claimed the lives of 260 people, has become the subject of numerous theories and analyses, with experts worldwide attempting to decipher the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report indicated that the engine fuel control switches moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position within one second of each other shortly after takeoff. This action cuts off the fuel supply to the engines, a procedure typically reserved for engine shutdowns. The report also noted that there was no immediate need for action from Boeing or GE, the engine manufacturer. This has raised questions about potential crew involvement, mechanical failure, or a combination of factors.
Conflicting viewpoints have emerged regarding the cause of the crash. Some aviation experts suggest the possibility of deliberate human action, pointing to the sequence of fuel cutoff switches and cockpit audio. Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a leading aviation expert, suggested the crash may have stemmed from deliberate actions taken in the cockpit. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials who examined the evidence stated that the cockpit voice recording suggests the captain might have moved the fuel control switches to "cutoff". However, other analysts caution against premature conclusions, highlighting a past incident where a software glitch caused a similar engine shutdown. US aviation analyst Mary Schiavo noted a similar incident involving an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787, where the aircraft's software mistakenly interpreted the plane as being on the ground, triggering the thrust control malfunction accommodation system, which automatically moved the fuel switch.
Amit Singh, an air safety expert, described the preliminary report as a "mathematical riddle," pointing out inconsistencies in the timeline. According to Singh's analysis, the engines failed at liftoff, before the fuel switches were moved to cutoff. He raises the key question of what triggered the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup power source that deploys in emergencies, and when the engines actually failed. The RAT is designed to deploy automatically in situations such as dual engine failure. CCTV footage released by the AAIB shows the RAT deployed as the plane is taking off.
Adding another layer to the investigation, Air India training pilots recreated possible scenarios in a simulator to understand the crash. These simulations included electrical failures that could cause a dual-engine flame-out. However, the pilots were unable to replicate the crash conditions. A simulation posted on YouTube explored theories, such as mechanical failure in both of the engines or a problem with the aircraft's fuel system. The simulation also addressed concerns that the plane took off without its flaps up.
The investigation has focused on the movement of the engine fuel control switches. The data available to investigators does not indicate a mechanical or design issue with the 787 or its engines. Post-accident analysis showed no sign of fuel contamination or improper retraction of the aircraft's flaps. The Wall Street Journal reported that investigators believed Flight 171's emergency power system had been active at the time of the crash, with the RAT deployed. An aviation expert believes the Air India crash wasn't due to pilot error, but a possible chip malfunction. The preliminary AAIB report reveals last-moment cockpit confusion and simultaneous fuel cutoff. The expert believes if maintenance isn't done correctly it could lead to intermittent loss of signal.
The Air India Flight 171 crash remains a complex puzzle, with investigators exploring multiple avenues to determine the definitive cause. As the investigation progresses, the aviation community awaits further details and analyses to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
