The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report on the Air India Flight 171 crash that occurred in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The crash resulted in the deaths of 260 people. The report, which was published approximately 30 days after the incident, outlines the initial findings of the investigation into the crash of Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed for London Gatwick.

According to the AAIB's preliminary report, the fuel supply to both engines was cut off mid-air, just three seconds after takeoff. The fuel control switches for both engines transitioned from the "RUN" position to "CUTOFF" within one second of each other, leading to a sudden loss of thrust.

Recordings from the cockpit reveal the pilots' confusion in the moments following the engine shutdown. One pilot is heard asking the other, "Why did you cutoff?" to which the other replied, "I did not do so," suggesting a potential technical malfunction or inadvertent activation.

Following the shutdown, an automatic attempt to relight Engine 1 was successful, but Engine 2 failed to recover despite multiple fuel reintroductions. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency power source, deployed immediately after liftoff, indicating a total loss of power to essential systems. A Mayday call was issued seconds before the aircraft impacted buildings outside the airport perimeter. Analysis shows the plane hit buildings with an 8° nose-up attitude and level wings, but with both engines inactive.

The AAIB noted that there was no evidence of bird strikes or dangerous cargo. The wreckage and both engines have been secured for detailed examination. Information gathered from the aircraft's black boxes is crucial to reconstructing the chain of events that led to the crash. The investigation is being jointly conducted by British, Indian, and US authorities.

One theory being considered is that the pilots may have attempted to isolate a failing engine but accidentally shut off fuel to both. This would have led to an immediate loss of thrust, explaining the aircraft's normal climb followed by a sudden descent and the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), as captured in crash footage. Normally, the fuel control switches remain on during flight. They are also used to start the engines, shut them down, or reset them during emergencies. It remains unclear whether the shutdown was unintentional, deliberate, or part of a failed recovery attempt. Notably, the aircraft's systems and engines showed no signs of mechanical failure.