A preliminary report regarding the Air India flight AI171 crash that occurred on June 12 in Ahmedabad, India, indicates that the plane's fuel switches were turned off shortly after takeoff. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a 15-page report on Friday, July 11, 2025, revealing that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were switched off within one second of each other. This action led to a loss of thrust in both engines. The flight, bound for London's Gatwick airport, tragically crashed shortly after, resulting in the deaths of at least 260 people, including passengers and individuals on the ground. One passenger survived the crash.
According to the AAIB's report, the fuel control switches were moved from the "RUN" position to "CUTOFF" within seconds of takeoff. The report indicated that at 13:38:42 IST (08:08:42 UTC), the aircraft reached 180 knots indicated airspeed (IAS), immediately after which both engines' fuel cutoff switches were moved. Data from the Engine and Flight Recorder (EAFR) confirmed that the N2 values in both engines fell below the minimum idle speed.
The cockpit voice recording revealed a concerning exchange between the pilots. One pilot is heard asking the other, "Why did you cut off?" to which the other responded, "I did not do so". This suggests a possible miscommunication or an unexplained event that led to the fuel cutoff. Aviation experts note that the fuel control switches are not designed to be moved accidentally, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding their activation. The report does not state how the switch was flipped.
Following the fuel cutoff, the pilots attempted to relight the engines. The fuel switches for both engines were returned to the 'Run' position within seconds, and the exhaust gas temperatures (EGTs) rose, indicating combustion during the relight attempts. While the first engine showed signs of recovery, with its core deceleration halting and reversing, the second engine failed to stabilize despite repeated attempts to reintroduce fuel. Thirteen seconds before the "MAYDAY" call, the fuel control switches were being transitioned back from “CUTOFF” to “RUN”. The first engine's fuel cutoff switch transitioned from "CUTOFF" to "RUN" at approximately 08:08:52 UTC.
The opening of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) inlet door two seconds later could have disrupted airflow. The APU provides electrical and pneumatic power while the aircraft is on the ground and sometimes in the air.
The investigation is still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash. The preliminary report does not offer a conclusion as to how the switches were moved to the cutoff position and notes that there were no previously reported defects related to the fuel control switch since 2023. However, aviation expert David Learmount suggested that the simultaneous cutoff of both engines "sounds deliberate". He also acknowledged the possibility of pilot error, where pilots might perform an incorrect action instead of the intended one. The switches are not near the undercarriage lever.
Air India has acknowledged the preliminary report and expressed solidarity with the families affected by the accident. The airline stated its commitment to providing support during this difficult time.
