Air India Flight 171: The Mysterious Fuel Cutoff That Led to Disaster

1. A Catastrophe Minutes After Takeoff

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171—a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner—crash-landed into a residential hostel in Ahmedabad just 30 to 40 seconds after takeoff. The plane was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Of those aboard, 241 perished, and 19 were killed on the ground, with dozens more injured. Only one passenger survived, later identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh .

The aircraft reached an altitude of just 625 feet, never climbing beyond 180 knots, before descending uncontrollably . In the chaos that followed, even experienced investigators struggled to identify what had so rapidly spiraled into tragedy.


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2. Fuel Was Cut, Engines Shut Down

The 15‑page preliminary report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) offers the first insight: within seconds of takeoff, both fuel control switches—normally set to “RUN”—were found in the “CUTOFF” position on both engines, causing an immediate loss of thrust. Power was briefly restored when the switches were flipped back on, but the plane lacked sufficient altitude or time to recover .

Investigators stressed that fuel contamination, bird strikes, or mechanical failure were ruled out. The report also confirmed one engine relit, while the other never regained full power .


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3. Cockpit Confusion Revealed in Voice Recordings

Perhaps the most chilling detail: cockpit audio captured one pilot asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” The other replied, “I did not do it.” Neither pilot claimed responsibility, and the identities were not clarified. Voice analysis is ongoing to determine who was speaking—whether Captain or First Officer .

No unusual circumstances—alarm triggers, smoke, or emergency alerts—preceded the switch movement. Just a brief exchange before the mayday call and fall from the sky.


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4. Design Safeguards Make Accidental Shutdown Unlikely

The fuel cutoff switches on the 787 are equipped with dual safety mechanisms: a lock requiring upward pull before flipping, and side brackets to prevent accidental activation. Experts say it is almost impossible to move both switches in one motion unintentionally. That’s why accidental shutdown during a critical climb has been dismissed .

A Canadian aviation specialist told BBC, “I’ve never seen fuel cutoff switches moved accidentally. It would take deliberate action.” Similarly, former NTSB manager Peter Goel called it “highly suspect” that both switches were toggled without intention .

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5. Was It Human Error—or Something Else?

Given the improbability of accidental activation, analysts are now contemplating harder questions:

Was the movement intentional? If so, by whom and why?

Could pilot confusion, fatigue, or miscommunication play a role?


Sean Prochnicki, former Air Accident Investigator at Ohio State University, stated that the absence of other cockpit alerts or visible system failures makes accidental or emergency shutdowns unlikely. This shifts focus to potential human involvement—whether purposeful or inadvertent, which remains under scrutiny .

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6. Past Warnings: FAA Bulletin from 2018

In December 2018, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory bulletin (non-mandatory) warning that some Boeing 737s had fuel control switches installed without locking mechanisms. The same switch design is also used in Boeing 787‑8s like VT‑ANB. Air India had not carried out the suggested inspections, citing that the advisory was not mandatory .

This cost-cutting measure—or oversight—has now entered the spotlight. Experts argue that a faulty or missing lock could allow unauthorized switch movement, although other companies reported no direct incidents until now.


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7. Emergency Measures Were Activated—but Too Late

Static CCTV from the airport showed the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deploying shortly after engine failure—indicating both power and hydraulic loss. RAT deployment is a rare emergency backup, showing the severity of the failure .

Although one engine began relighting and showed signs of recovery, the aircraft lacked height to stabilize. Flight data suggests fuel switches were reset to “RUN” seconds apart, with engines trying to restart—one succeeding partially—but it was already too late .


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8. One Mayday, One Survivor, Many Questions

Just before losing contact, the cockpit transmitted a “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.” The call received no response before the crash. Flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) files—over 49 hours of voice audio and full flight data logs—have been retrieved and sent to the AAIB lab in Delhi for deeper review .

Despite protests from families and aviation bodies, the AAIB made no immediate safety directives to Boeing or GE, suggesting no design flaw has been confirmed thus far. The final report is expected within a year, pending thorough evaluation of cockpit recordings and engineering analysis .

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9. Aviation Experts Demand Transparency

Experts and families alike have voiced frustration over the preliminary report’s unanswered questions. While it confirms sequence and cockpit confusion, it fails to address who moved the switches or why. Many feel the investigation may be biased toward pilot error without transparency. Aviation unions and victim representatives have called for an impartial, fully public inquiry—including possible sabotage or suicide theories .

Former NTSB manager Peter Goel urged investigators to identify every voice in the cockpit recording and reconstruct the entire timeline, down to the moment the aircraft began rolling and altitude dropped.


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10. Legacy: A First for the Dreamliner

Air India Flight 171 marks the first fatal hull-loss of any Boeing 787, an aircraft model celebrated for modern safety standards since entering service in 2011. With over 41,000 flight hours logged, VT‑ANB had recently undergone comprehensive maintenance including a C‑check and engine overhaul, making the crash all the more unexpected .

It also dealt a serious blow to the Tata Group’s efforts to rebrand Air India since its 2022 acquisition. The tragedy also draws attention to broader safety concerns in India’s aviation infrastructure and regulatory regime.


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📝 Key Timeline at a Glance

Event Time / Details

Takeoff ~08:08:42 UTC (180 knots airspeed)
Fuel switches cut off Both engines within 1 second
Engine relight attempt Fuel switches returned to RUN within seconds
Mayday call ~08:09:05 UTC
Crash impact 30–40 seconds after takeoff
Survivor One passenger survived
Lives lost 260 total (241 onboard, 19 on ground)
Report published 11–12 July 2025
Final report expected Within 12 months



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🚨 Why This Still Matters

The switches are designed to resist accidental movement—so why were they flipped in active flight?

Voice recordings are crucial to identify who moved them and whether confusion, error, or intent was involved.

A prior FAA bulletin suggested design or inspection concerns—why wasn’t action taken?

Families, aviation bodies, and experts demand a transparent, victim-inclusive investigation rather than speculation.



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✅ Final Thoughts

The preliminary report has only deepened the mystery surrounding Air India Flight 171. While confirming that fuel was deliberately or accidentally cut to both engines, it raises more questions than it answers. Was it pilot error? Mechanical fault? Sabotage or confusion? Until the full investigation is released, the truth remains suspended in uncertainty.

But one thing is clear: aviation must remain vigilant. This landmark accident underlines how even rare, protected controls can become vulnerable—and how a single cockpit moment can transform a routine flight into catastrophe.