Air India Flight 171 crash

1. Fuel control switch movement

Investigators now strongly suspect the crash resulted from manual or accidental toggling of the dual-engine fuel cutoff switches, which require deliberate action to move

Experts note that the guarded, spring‑loaded design makes accidental trigger unlikely—but accidental isn’t impossible

2. Intentional act or pilot suicide

Aviation expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan suggests the synchronized switch movements imply conscious action, possibly even suicide.

However, pilot associations call such theories premature and caution against speculation

3. Mechanical/system failure

Though no fault has been found in engines, fuel, flaps, or gear, investigators are reviewing possible electrical, hydraulic, or avionics issues that might cause the switches to move or systems to fail

Videos show deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—a sign of dual-engine/hydraulic failure.

4. Fuel contamination

However, checked bowser and tank samples appeared satisfactory so far

5. Pilot error or system confusion

Emergency procedures like flap retraction or landing gear handling might have gone awry, though recent analysis suggests flaps and gear were likely functioning normally before power loss.

🔍 What remains unknown

Who moved the switches—and why? Intentional or accidental?

Could hidden mechanical, electrical, or contamination issues have played a role, even if not yet identified?

What exactly the cockpit voice and flight data recorders will reveal is eagerly awaited. The final AAIB report, due within ~12 months, should mark a turning point.

6. Emerging Hypotheses

A. Pilot Action or Error

Fuel cutoff switches are spring-loaded and locked, requiring deliberate activation—making accidental movement “vanishingly unlikely.”

Pilot unions (IFALPA) caution against premature assumptions of intent or suicide.

One pilot had over 15,600 flight hours, the other around 3,400 hours; both certified and experienced.

B. Design or Mechanical Flaw

A 2018 FAA bulletin flagged potential deactivation of the switch guard. The bulletin was not mandatory; Air India had not applied it.

Worldwide inspections are underway—Lufthansa, SIA, JAL, Etihad, and Air India. The DGCA has mandated such checks by July 21.

C. Systemic Fault

While no mechanical issues were found, FAA and AAIB continue to review potential FADEC, electrical, or hydraulic faults that might trigger switch movement or misleading alerts.

7. What We Don’t Know Yet

Who moved the switches, and why—was it deliberate, accidental, or technical anomaly?

Did cockpit alerts or vibrations provide clues before the shutdown?

Are cockpit audio and simulator tests shedding additional light? (Early recreations suggest cockpit actions played a crucial role.)

🕰️ 8. What Comes Next

Final AAIB report expected within 6–12 months, including full black box transcript and findings.

Simulator replays by Air India and Boeing to determine cockpit dynamics.

Global regulatory reviews on fuel switch design and cockpit ergonomics.

Legal actions by victims’ families and intensified media scrutiny for transparency.

📝 Summary Table

Element Facts & Status

Cause Fuel switch movement → dual-engine shutdown

Pilot reaction Requested explanation, re-engaged switches, MAYDAY issued

Mechanical failure None found (fuel, engine, airworthiness ok)

Design issue FAA advisory on switch guard acknowledged

Final determination Pending final AAIB report

Global action Switch inspections worldwide by July 21

🧭 Final Word

Air India Flight 171's tragedy stems from a sudden fuel cutoff shortly after takeoff, whose root cause remains unclear—between deliberate action, inadvertent error, or technical anomaly. It stands as the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787, and it has triggered a global regulatory response. The final AAIB report, simulator findings, and cockpit audio will be crucial to understanding what happened and preventing future occurrences.

Investigative angles like mental health review or regulatory clampdown

🧭 Summary

The dominant current hypothesis is manual movement of fuel cutoff switches, but the motivation—whether human intent, confusion, or unknown system glitch—is still unclear. Alternative theories such as fuel contamination or electrical/hydraulic failures remain on the table.

Officials have ruled out bird strikes and sabotage, and search is ongoing across all angles