Air India AI171 Crash: Preliminary Report Uncovers Fuel Switch Error and System Malfunction

New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report on the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 that occurred on June 12 in Ahmedabad, resulting in 270 fatalities. The flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to London with 241 passengers and 29 crew members. Shockingly, only one person survived, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history.

According to the AAIB’s early findings, the aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure just seconds after takeoff. Both engines shut down almost simultaneously, rendering the plane powerless. Investigators discovered that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were moved from the ‘RUN’ position to ‘CUTOFF’ within a one-second interval, effectively killing power to the engines.

Data retrieved from the cockpit voice recorder captured a moment of confusion between the pilots. When one pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” the other replied, “I didn’t,” raising questions about whether the switch movement was accidental, mechanical, or software-related. This interaction is now a focal point of the ongoing investigation.

In response to the loss of power, the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup emergency power system, deployed automatically to sustain basic hydraulic functions. Footage from airport CCTV confirmed the RAT’s activation during the brief flight. The pilots made desperate attempts to restart both engines mid-air. Engine 1 showed some signs of recovery, but Engine 2 remained non-functional. Despite their efforts, the aircraft remained airborne for only 32 seconds before crashing into a hostel complex just under a nautical mile from the runway.

The thrust levers were found at idle during impact, yet flight data indicated that takeoff thrust was still engaged, suggesting a possible disconnect between pilot commands and the aircraft’s engine response system. This inconsistency has drawn attention to the electronic engine control mechanisms and whether a software glitch or hardware fault may have contributed.

Environmental and technical conditions at the time of the crash have largely been ruled out. There were clear skies, good visibility, and no significant bird activity near the flight path. Fuel analysis confirmed there were no contaminants or errors in refuelling. Flap settings and landing gear configuration were appropriate for takeoff, and the aircraft was within all prescribed weight and balance limits. Furthermore, the aircraft was not carrying any hazardous materials.

Pilot factors have also been cleared. Both pilots were medically fit, adequately rested, and held valid licenses with extensive experience on the Boeing 787 platform.

However, a critical revelation in the report points to an FAA advisory issued earlier, which had warned of a potential flaw in the fuel switch mechanism. Despite this notice, Air India had reportedly not carried out the recommended inspections on the aircraft involved in the crash. This lapse is now under scrutiny and could play a central role in determining accountability.

While sabotage or external interference has been ruled out, the early findings raise serious concerns about procedural lapses and mechanical vulnerabilities. The final report, expected in the coming months, will provide a detailed analysis of the sequence of failures and any systemic issues that may have contributed to the disaster.