A preliminary investigation into the devastating crash of Air India Flight 171 suggests that fuel to both engines was cut off seconds after takeoff, according to early data from the Boeing 787’s voice and flight recorders. The crash occurred on June 12, shortly after departure from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived, and over 270 people in total were killed, including those on the ground after the aircraft slammed into a medical college dining hall.
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) reported that the fuel cutoff did not result from any mechanical or design flaw, ruling out issues with Boeing or engine-maker General Electric. The findings pointed instead to manual control switches in the cockpit, which regulate fuel supply. According to the cockpit voice recorder, one pilot questioned the other: “Why did you cut off the fuel?” to which the co-pilot replied, “I did not.” This exchange has intensified scrutiny of possible pilot error or miscommunication.
The report emphasizes that no changes are recommended for aircraft design or engine systems, reinforcing the likelihood of human factors as a primary concern in the crash.
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The AAIB’s preliminary findings have stirred intense debate within aviation safety circles and the public, as the early evidence shifts focus squarely onto the actions and coordination of the flight crew. Investigators are now zeroing in on how and why both fuel control switches may have been flipped deliberately or accidentally during a critical phase of flight. These switches are essential for maintaining engine operation, and their shutdown is typically part of shutdown procedures, not during takeoff.
The crash is now considered India’s deadliest air disaster in nearly three decades, raising alarm over cockpit procedures, pilot training, and possible systemic lapses. Despite the grave outcome, officials caution that much is still unknown, and the final report could take months.
Meanwhile, Boeing and GE have been cleared of immediate responsibility, but aviation analysts expect the final investigation to potentially reshape procedural guidelines and reinforce the importance of crew resource management and fuel system safeguards. The crash has also reignited conversations around real-time aircraft monitoring and cockpit alert systems that could prevent such catastrophic oversights.
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