A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau shows that the fuel control switches on Air India Flight 171 moved to the cutoff position within seconds of liftoff, shutting off thrust and triggering the disaster that killed 260 people on June 12 in Ahmedabad. The finding shifts attention to cockpit actions and switch design as investigators work to explain how both engines lost power at cruise speed.
Details of the Incident
Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, reached about 180 knots before engine thrust fell abruptly The Guardian. The report states that “Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of one second” at about 08:08:42 UTC. With fuel flow halted, the aircraft could not maintain altitude and crashed into a hostel near the airport perimeter almost a nautical mile from the runway.
Cockpit Voice Recorder Insights
Recordings reveal a tense exchange after the shutdown. One pilot asks why the engine was cut off and the other denies moving the switch The Guardian. They then tried to restart an engine, but thrust returned too late to prevent the descent. The ram air turbine deployed automatically when power failed, but the crew lost critical seconds before impact.
Technical Examination of Fuel Switches
Investigators are now probing if the switches malfunctioned or were toggled by accident. These controls feature metal locks and guard brackets meant to stop unintended movement The Guardian. Aviation expert John Cox notes that flipping the switches stops an engine in seconds. So far, no mechanical flaws or fuel issues have emerged, and external causes like bird strikes are ruled out.
Implications for Air India and Aviation Safety
This crash, India’s deadliest in nearly three decades, has put Air India under intense scrutiny. The airline works with Boeing and engine maker GE on safety reviews. India’s Civil Aviation Minister says authorities will keep the process open but did not set a date for the final report. Meanwhile, industry regulators may look into switch design standards and training procedures to prevent similar errors.
Personal Analysis
The fact that both fuel switches were moved within a second suggests a serious lapse in cockpit protocol or a design oversight in the switch mechanism. And the pilots’ confusion hints that no one expected the controls to jump to cutoff so easily. This points to a need for better ergonomic safeguards and clearer checklists that force crew verification before making any switch changes. Regulatory bodies should also review advisory bulletins—like the 2018 FAA notice on switch locks—that airlines might skip without penalty. Without urgent action, pilots will face the same risk in future takeoffs.
