Ahmedabad: A preliminary inquiry report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into catastrophic crash of Air India flight AI-171 on June 12 has uncovered startling findings, raising critical questions about the cause of one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in decades.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 passengers and crew onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and 19 people on the ground. The sole survivor, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A near an emergency exit, escaped with minor injuries.
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Fuel Control Switches went off
The AAIB’s 15-page preliminary report, submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on July 11, 2025, revealed that the fuel control switches for both engines of the Boeing 787-8 transitioned from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” position just three seconds after takeoff, at approximately 1:38:42 PM IST. This abrupt cutoff halted fuel supply to the General Electric GEnx-1B engines, causing both to lose thrust and leading to a rapid loss of altitude. The aircraft, which had reached a maximum altitude of 625 feet, plummeted into a hostel building at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar, triggering multiple explosions.
Cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data captured a critical exchange between the pilots. One pilot, identified as co-pilot Clive Kunder (the pilot flying), was heard asking the other, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (the pilot monitoring), “Why did you cut off the fuel?” to which Sabharwal responded, “I didn’t do it.” The report notes that the fuel switches moved back to the “RUN” position 10-12 seconds later, initiating an automatic engine relight process. One engine briefly regained thrust, but the aircraft’s low altitude and rapid deceleration made recovery impossible, leading to the crash at 1:39:14 PM IST, just 32 seconds after the take off.
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The report highlighted that the aircraft’s weight, flap settings, and landing gear were within normal parameters, and weather conditions were clear with no significant bird activity observed. Maintenance records showed no prior issues with the fuel control switches since the cockpit’s throttle control module was last replaced in 2023. The absence of reported technical failures in the Boeing 787-8 or its GE engines has led investigators to rule out mechanical issues as a primary cause at this stage.
Unanswered Questions and Potential Human Error
A significant point of contention in the report is a 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory regarding the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on certain Boeing aircraft. Air India did not conduct the recommended inspections, as the advisory was not mandatory. The AAIB report notes that the design of the fuel switches, which require deliberate manual action to move to “CUTOFF,” makes accidental disengagement highly unlikely. This has fueled speculation about possible human error or intentional action in the cockpit.
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Aviation safety expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan, in an interview with a channel, suggested that the fuel cutoff could only have been a deliberate manual act, as the switches are designed to remain in their designated slots and require physical effort to move. “This is not something that can happen automatically or due to a power issue. It’s a manual action, and the possibility of it being intentional, potentially even with suicidal intent, cannot be ruled out,” he stated. His remarks, made just 24 hours after the AAIB report’s release, have sparked intense debate about the pilots’ actions and mental state. The AAIB is now investigating the pilots’ psychological conditions, personal lives, and recent behavior to explore this angle further.
Sabotage Angle Under Scrutiny
Adding to the complexity, statements from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) indicate that a sabotage angle is also being probed. Ground staff have been questioned, their phones seized, and CCTV footage from Ahmedabad airport is under review. While these claims remain inconclusive, they reflect the gravity of the investigation and public interest in uncovering the truth behind the tragedy.
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Investigation Progress and International Collaboration
The AAIB, supported by experts from Boeing, General Electric, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and the FAA, is conducting a comprehensive investigation. Both Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs), combining flight data and cockpit voice recordings, were recovered from the crash site on June 13 and 16, with data successfully downloaded by June 25 at the AAIB’s Delhi laboratory. The wreckage has been moved to a secure facility near the airport, and key components, including the engines, are under quarantine for further analysis. Limited fuel samples retrieved from the aircraft are being tested, though samples from the airport’s fuel bowsers were found satisfactory, ruling out contamination as a likely cause.
The investigation is expected to take up to 12 months for a final report, as per International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) protocols. A high-level committee, chaired by the Home Secretary, has also been formed to recommend standard operating procedures to prevent future incidents. The committee’s first meeting was held on June 16, 2025, in New Delhi.
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Air India’s Response and Public Reaction
Air India issued a statement acknowledging the preliminary report and pledged full cooperation with the AAIB and other authorities. “We are working closely with stakeholders and are committed to assisting the affected families,” the airline said. The crash, the first total loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has dealt a significant blow to Air India’s ongoing turnaround efforts following its privatization by the Tata Group in 2022. The airline has reduced international operations with its wide-body fleet and conducted safety checks on its 26 Boeing 787 aircraft, all of which were cleared for service.
Families of the victims, including Badasab Syed, who lost four relatives, expressed frustration over the lack of clarity. “The report raises more questions than answers. Was this avoidable?” Syed told the BBC. Aviation lawyers, such as Demetrius Danas from Irwin Mitchell, have called for further scrutiny of the “deeply concerning” findings, urging families not to rush into compensation agreements.
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Broader Implications
The crash, which killed 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, has drawn international attention. The UK government has committed to reviewing the AAIB report, given the significant number of British victims. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “heartbreaking beyond words,” and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has assured full state support for rescue, relief, and investigation efforts.
As the investigation continues, the AAIB has not issued immediate safety recommendations for Boeing 787-8 aircraft or GE GEnx-1B engines, suggesting that no systemic issues have been identified yet. However, the focus on the fuel switch incident and the possibility of human intervention has made this one of the most mysterious aviation disasters in Indian history. The coming months are expected to bring further revelations as investigators piece together the complex puzzle of Flight AI-171’s final moments.
