The preliminary report on the Air India Flight AI171 crash, which occurred on June 12, 2025, near Ahmedabad Airport, has provided some clarity but also raised new questions, according to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson. The crash, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, resulted in the deaths of 260 people.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report indicates that both engines of the aircraft shut down shortly after takeoff, leading to the crash. The report specifies that the fuel control switches moved from the "RUN" to the "CUTOFF" position almost simultaneously, within one second of each other, causing both engines to fail. This discovery has prompted investigations into why these switches moved.
Despite these findings, Wilson has urged against premature conclusions. He stated that the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed. Furthermore, the report indicated that there were no issues with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the takeoff roll. The pilots had also passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyzer, and there were no observations regarding their medical status. In light of the accident, Air India checked every Boeing 787 in its fleet, under the oversight of the DGCA, and found them all fit for service.
However, the AAIB report does not conclude the reason for the switches moving or assign blame for the crash. The report has not determined whether the fuel-switch shutdown was mechanical or accidental. The investigators have also not "speaker-stamped" the voice recording from the cockpit to identify who is speaking.
Adding to the complexity, a former pilot suggested that a chip malfunction may have contributed to the crash. According to the pilot, the fuel control unit (FU) might have failed to receive a command to stay in a run position, causing a brief interruption in fuel supply.
The preliminary report also highlighted a 2018 FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin that warned about the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature in similar switches used on 737 aircraft. Although the FAA issued an advisory in 2018 to check the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature, it was not mandatory.
The families of the victims have rejected Air India's compensation offers and are planning legal action, suspecting mechanical faults or maintenance issues rather than pilot error. Some relatives of the victims are denouncing the preliminary probe as a cover-up to protect the airline, Boeing, and the Indian government.
