Ahmedabad Air Crash: Preliminary Report Finds Fuel Cut-Off after Takeoff

July 12, 2025 - India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has published its preliminary findings into the June 12 crash of the Air India flight AI171 bound for London Gatwick which killed 241 people onboard and 19 more on the ground. The crash marked the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered commercial service in 2011.

The preliminary investigation reveals that an unexpected fuel cutoff to both engines occurred shortly after takeoff, leading to loss of thrust, a Mayday call and the aircraft's crash into a medical college hostel dorm. While cockpit audio shows pilot confusion, no mechanical defects have been confirmed and cause (human versus system error) remains under investigation.

As per the preliminary report, seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, both engines unexpectedly lost fuel. The fuel-cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF within one second of each other. This discovery is compounded with cockpit voice recordings captured with one pilot was heard asking “Why did you cutoff?” to which the other replied, “No, I did not do so”.

No system failure was yet found. According to experts, the switches are mechanically guarded to prevent accidental movement. So far no faults in Boeing 787 or GE engines have been identified

A "MAYDAY" was declared around 23 seconds after takeoff. The ram air turbine (RAT) deployed, indicating dual engine failure.

The final report - due in several months - will be pivotal in understanding this aviation disaster.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said on Saturday July 12, "I don't think we should jump into any conclusions over this. I believe we have the most wonderful workforce of pilots and crew in the whole world. I have to appreciate all the efforts the pilots and crew of the country are putting, they are the backbone of civil aviation. They are the primary resource of civil aviation. We care for the welfare and well-being of the pilots also. So let us not jump into any conclusions at this stage and wait for the final report". 

Source: Media Reports