Accidents

Air India Crash Report: Fuel Switches Cut Off After Takeoff

Published JUL 12 2025

Story

Above: Aircraft debris at the crash site of Air India Ltd. flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12, 2025. Image credit: Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

A preliminary report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has found that fuel control switches for both engines were moved from the "RUN" to the "CUTOFF" position within one second of each other, approximately three seconds after takeoff, which likely caused Air India Flight 171 to crash last month.
Fox 59
The New York Times
New York Post
Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed on June 12 in Ahmedabad, India, killing 260 people, including 241 aboard the aircraft and 19 on the ground, with only one passenger surviving.
CNN
NDTV
guardian
Cockpit voice recordings revealed one pilot asking the other why he cut off the fuel. The other pilot reportedly responded that he did not do so, indicating confusion in the cockpit during the final moments.
Al Jazeera
CNN
According to aviation experts, fuel cutoff switches are designed with locking mechanisms and require deliberate action to pull outward and transition between positions to make accidental activation more unlikely.
Al Jazeera
CNN
The Hindu
The aircraft's captain was Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 15,000 hours of flying experience, while first officer Clive Kunder had logged 3,400 hours, both deemed medically fit and adequately experienced for the flight.
New York Post
The New York Times
NDTV
The preliminary report found no immediate evidence of sabotage, mechanical failure, or design flaws, with investigators stating there are "no recommended actions" for Boeing 787 operators or manufacturers at this stage.
guardian
Fox 59
Organiser

Sources Split

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CENTER

RIGHT

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CRIT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The crash appears to result from pilot error or deliberate action, as fuel switches cannot be accidentally moved due to built-in safety mechanisms. These switches require intentional manipulation, and the sequential timing suggests human involvement rather than mechanical failure.

Daily Mail

Aviationa2Z

Narrative B

The investigation remains ongoing with no definitive conclusions about pilot culpability, as the preliminary report specifically avoids assigning blame and focuses on factual findings. Multiple factors could still emerge during the comprehensive investigation process.