The preliminary report regarding the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which resulted in 260 fatalities, has brought forth critical details about the final moments of the flight. The report, issued by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), highlights a vital exchange between the pilots just before the crash, now a focal point of the ongoing investigation.
Key Findings of the Preliminary Report
The investigation has revealed that shortly after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off, both engines experienced a sudden loss of power. This was due to the fuel control switches inexplicably moving from the "run" to the "cutoff" position, effectively cutting off the fuel supply to the engines. The AAIB's report indicates that this occurred within a second, leading to an immediate loss of altitude.
A chilling exchange was captured on the cockpit voice recorder. One pilot is heard questioning the other, "Why did you cut off fuel?". The other pilot responded that he had not done so. This crucial communication suggests confusion and a potential malfunction or unintended action that led to the fuel cutoff.
Following the engine failure, the pilots initiated emergency procedures. The fuel switches were returned to the "run" position, and the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed to provide emergency hydraulics. The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) also auto-started. While Engine 1 showed signs of a partial recovery, Engine 2 failed to regain thrust. Despite these efforts, the aircraft remained airborne for only about 30 seconds before crashing.
Sequence of Events
According to the AAIB, the flight's final moments unfolded as follows:
Aircraft and Crew Information
The flight was operated by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 flying hours. The report indicates that both pilots were medically fit and adequately rested. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was deemed airworthy, with its Airworthiness Review Certificate valid until May 2026.
Possible Causes and Further Investigation
The AAIB report has not yet determined whether the fuel-switch shutdown was mechanical or accidental. However, the report noted a previous FAA advisory from December 2018 regarding a potential flaw in the aircraft's fuel-control switch system, highlighting the potential disengagement of the locking feature. Air India told investigators that no inspection had been made in response to this advisory, since compliance was not mandatory.
The investigation is ongoing, with the AAIB gathering further evidence from relevant stakeholders. The probe involves experts from Boeing, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Past Incidents
This recent Air India crash has brought attention to other aviation disasters in India. One such incident is the Air India Express Flight 1344 crash on August 7, 2020. This flight overshot the runway at Kozhikode International Airport due to poor weather conditions, resulting in 21 fatalities.
