Investigators are examining a potential technical issue that may have contributed to the Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The focus is on whether a pre-existing glitch in the aircraft's electrical or software systems could have triggered an "un-commanded transition" of the fuel control switches.

Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport en route to London Gatwick Airport, resulting in 241 fatalities. A preliminary report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the fuel control switches for both engines moved from the "RUN" to the "CUTOFF" position within one second of each other, leading to a loss of thrust. This abrupt fuel cutoff occurred just three seconds after the aircraft became airborne.

Adding to the mystery, cockpit voice recordings indicate that neither pilot intentionally switched off the fuel supply. According to the AAIB report, one pilot is heard asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other responded that he did not. This has led investigators to explore the possibility of a technical malfunction that could have caused the switches to move independently.

Sources indicate that investigators are scrutinizing previous technical logs for the aircraft, which may reveal a history of warnings related to electrical and software components. There are reports that the same AI-171 flight experienced a significant technical issue on December 12, 2024, which led to an aborted boarding. The issue was reportedly an electrical failure indicated on the incoming flight from Delhi. In addition, the aircraft had experienced two major snags including an emergency landing in 2015 due to Cabin Air Compressor (CAC) surge, a known malfunction on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

The investigators are also looking into whether the fuel control switches could have been moved without pilot command. According to a veteran aviation expert, the fuel control switches are springloaded and require a pilot to pull the switch before moving it to either the run or cutoff position.

Following the release of the preliminary report, Air India inspected the fuel control switch locking mechanisms on its Boeing 787 fleet but found no technical snags.

Meanwhile, pilot associations have rejected suggestions of pilot error, emphasizing that such claims are premature and insensitive. They are calling for a fair and transparent investigation, with pilot representatives involved in the process.

The AAIB has stated that the investigation is ongoing and will include a review of additional evidence and information from various stakeholders. The final report, expected by June 12, 2026, is anticipated to provide answers and reveal the probable causes of the accident.