On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India. The tragic incident claimed 260 lives, including 241 of the 242 passengers and crew on board, and 19 people on the ground when the plane slammed into a medical hostel complex. A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released on July 12, 2025, sheds light on the catastrophic sequence of events that led to one of India’s worst aviation disasters in decades. Here’s a clear and concise breakdown of the report’s key findings and what they mean.
What Happened: A Timeline of the Crash
The flight took off normally, reaching a speed of about 333 km/h and climbing to 650 feet. Just 32 seconds after liftoff, the aircraft lost thrust and crashed into a densely populated area near the airport, destroying five buildings, including a medical college dining hall. The sole survivor was a British-Indian passenger seated in row 11A, marking a rare instance of survival in such a devastating crash.
Key Findings from the Preliminary Report
- Fuel Supply Cutoff: The report highlights a critical detail: three seconds after takeoff, the fuel control switches for both engines moved from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” position within one second of each other, starving the engines of fuel. This caused an immediate loss of thrust, leading to the plane’s rapid descent.
- Cockpit Confusion: Cockpit voice recordings captured a brief exchange between the pilots. One pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” referring to the fuel switches, to which the other responded, “I didn’t.” This suggests confusion in the cockpit, with neither pilot claiming responsibility for the switch movement.
- No Mechanical Faults Identified: The AAIB found no evidence of mechanical failure or design flaws in the Boeing 787 or its General Electric engines. Tests confirmed the fuel was clean, and there were no issues with bird strikes, weather, or refueling contamination. The report explicitly stated no recommendations were made to Boeing or General Electric, ruling out manufacturing issues for now.
- Pilot Details: The flight was operated by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a 56-year-old Air India instructor with over 15,600 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kunder, 32, with 3,400 hours. Both pilots were medically fit, had passed breathalyzer tests, and had adequate rest before the flight. The co-pilot was flying the aircraft, while the captain monitored.
- Emergency Systems Activated: CCTV footage showed the plane’s ram air turbine (RAT), a backup power device, deploying seconds after takeoff, indicating a loss of engine power. The pilots also transmitted a “MAYDAY” call 23 seconds after the fuel cutoff, signaling an emergency to air traffic control.
Unanswered Questions
While the report provides critical insights, it leaves several questions open:
- What caused the fuel switches to move? The report does not clarify whether the switches were moved by human action, a mechanical issue, or an electronic malfunction. This remains a focal point for the ongoing investigation.
- Was it deliberate? Some speculation, including from aviation safety expert Captain Ranganathan, has raised the possibility of intentional action, citing past incidents like the Germanwings crash in 2015. However, India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, urged against jumping to conclusions until the final report is released.
- Why wasn’t a 2018 advisory followed? A 2018 U.S. Federal Aviation Administration advisory noted potential issues with fuel switch disengagement, but Air India did not conduct recommended inspections, as they were not mandatory.
What’s Next?
The preliminary report, spanning 15 pages, is just the first step in a detailed investigation expected to take over a year to complete. The AAIB, with support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, continues to analyze the black box data, including two hours of cockpit audio and flight data recordings. The focus remains on understanding how the fuel switches moved and whether human error, mechanical issues, or other factors played a role.
Air India has expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and is cooperating fully with authorities but has refrained from further comment. Meanwhile, the global aviation industry is closely watching, as this was the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 since its debut in 2011.
Impact and Reactions
The crash has sparked widespread grief and frustration among victims’ families, who are seeking clarity on whether the tragedy could have been avoided. The Airline Pilots’ Association of India has raised concerns about the investigation’s direction, cautioning against premature assumptions of pilot error. The disaster has also prompted a parliamentary panel to review safety protocols in India’s civil aviation sector.
Conclusion
The AAIB’s preliminary report offers the first official glimpse into the Air India Flight AI171 tragedy, pointing to a mysterious fuel cutoff as the primary cause of the crash. While it rules out mechanical failure, the exact reason behind the switch movement remains unclear, fueling speculation and debate. As the investigation continues, the focus will be on uncovering the full truth to prevent future tragedies and provide closure to those affected by this devastating event.
Also read: From Takeoff to Tragedy: The Air India Flight 171 Crash in Ahmedabad
