The preliminary report regarding the Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, 2025, is drawing intense scrutiny as investigators piece together the final moments of the flight. The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulted in the deaths of 260 people. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its initial findings, focusing on the aircraft's fuel control switches.
Contrary to initial reports, Indian investigators have told lawmakers that the black boxes from the Air India crash were undamaged. The investigators have successfully extracted "good data" from the black boxes. The plane's cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) were recovered from the crash site.
The preliminary report indicates that the fuel control switches for both engines were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position within one second of each other, only three seconds after takeoff. This action starved both engines of fuel, leading to a loss of thrust. The report also revealed confusion in the cockpit, with one pilot asking the other why the fuel was cut off, to which the other responded that he did not do it. The pilots transmitted a "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY" call.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the preliminary findings suggest the switches were turned off, although it remains unclear whether that happened accidentally or intentionally. Experts say that turning the switches to the cutoff position would stop fuel flow, shutting down the engines in seconds. One aviation safety expert noted that a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches.
The flight lasted approximately 30 seconds between takeoff and the crash. After the switches were flipped back to the "run" position, the plane could not regain power quickly enough to halt its descent.
The AAIB's preliminary report does not assign blame nor offer conclusions regarding the cause of the disaster. The investigation is ongoing, with Boeing and other international experts assisting. The investigation is focusing on the movement of the plane's fuel control switches and engine thrust issues. At this stage of the investigation, there are no recommended actions for Boeing 787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers.
