The preliminary report into the crash of Air India Flight AI171 on 12 June 2025 reveals a shocking and unexplained in-flight emergency: both engines shut down seconds after takeoff when the fuel control switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF positions, one after the other, one second apart.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered VT-ANB, was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick with 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and 2 flight crew onboard. The crash also caused fatalities on the ground, bringing the total death toll to 260, with 68 others injured.
Timeline of Key Events (All times in UTC)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 05:47 | VT-ANB arrives in Ahmedabad from Delhi as AI423. |
| 06:40 | Released for next flight after addressing a “STAB POS XDCR” tech log entry. |
| 07:43 | Crew requests pushback and startup. |
| 07:49 | Confirms requirement for full length of Runway 23. |
| 07:55 | Receives taxi clearance. |
| 08:07:33 | Cleared for takeoff from Runway 23; wind 240°/06 kts. |
| 08:07:37 | Takeoff roll begins. |
| 08:08:33 | Aircraft reaches V1 speed (153 kts). |
| 08:08:35 | Aircraft reaches Vr (155 kts). |
| 08:08:39 | Liftoff confirmed as aircraft enters air mode. |
| 08:08:42 | Aircraft reaches peak speed of 180 kts; Engine 1 and 2 fuel control switches move to CUTOFF, one second apart. |
| 08:08:43 | CVR: Pilot asks, “Why did you cutoff?” Other replies, “I didn’t do it.” |
| 08:08:47 | Ram Air Turbine (RAT) begins supplying hydraulic power. |
| 08:08:52–56 | Fuel switches manually reset to RUN; APU inlet door opens and relight attempts begin. |
| 08:09:05 | “MAYDAY” call transmitted. |
| 08:09:11 | Forward EAFR stops recording. |
| 08:14:44 | Crash Fire Tender dispatched from airport. |
Sequence of Events
According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report, the aircraft took off normally from Runway 23 with the co-pilot as Pilot Flying (PF) and the captain as Pilot Monitoring (PM). Speeds V1, Vr, and V2 were achieved in sequence, and liftoff occurred at 08:08:39 UTC.
However, just three seconds later, at 08:08:42 UTC, the fuel control switches for both engines transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF. This resulted in a complete shutdown of Engine 1 and Engine 2, causing the N1 and N2 values to drop rapidly.
Cockpit voice recordings captured the moment one pilot asked the other, “Why did you cutoff?” and received the reply, “I didn’t do it.”
With loss of thrust, the RAT deployed, automatically supplying limited hydraulic and electrical power. The crew attempted to restart both engines by returning the fuel switches to RUN, and the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) auto-started.
The EAFR (flight data recorder) showed that:
- Engine 1 began to recover, with core speed increasing.
- Engine 2 relit, but failed to maintain core speed, repeatedly attempting relight without success.
Despite the attempted recovery, the aircraft lost altitude before crossing the airport perimeter and impacted the BJ Medical College hostel at approximately 0.9 nautical miles from the runway’s departure end.
Key Findings and Ongoing Investigation
The crash site revealed extensive structural damage and fragmentation, with wreckage spread across six buildings and a debris field over 1000 feet long. The aircraft impacted in a nose-up attitude shortly after takeoff, with both engines, landing gear, and wing components separating and dispersing widely. The APU was found intact, and control surfaces such as the flaps and landing gear were in normal takeoff positions.
The forward flight data recorder (EAFR) was successfully recovered and provided critical flight and cockpit voice data confirming that both fuel control switches moved to CUTOFF shortly after liftoff, resulting in engine shutdown. The thrust levers were confirmed to have remained at takeoff power until impact, ruling out a commanded power reduction.
Fuel quality was ruled out as a factor after tests on refueling sources returned normal results. Engine components, recovered fuel traces, and cockpit systems are undergoing further analysis. Statements from the sole surviving passenger and witnesses have been recorded, and medical findings are being reviewed. No safety recommendations have been issued at this stage, and the investigation remains focused on determining whether the engine shutdown was due to technical malfunction, unintended input, or a systems-level failure.
While the precise cause of the dual engine shutdown remains under investigation, the preliminary findings highlight the critical nature of the fuel control switch transition and the rapid sequence of failures that followed. Investigators continue to analyze flight data, maintenance history, human factors, and system design to determine whether the cutoff was triggered by a technical malfunction, inadvertent input, or other contributing factors. Until a final report is released, the focus remains on understanding the root cause to prevent a recurrence of such a catastrophic event.
Image: Thrust Lever Quadrant and Fuel Control Switches — Left: Damaged quadrant recovered from VT-ANB wreckage; Right: Standard configuration showing RUN and CUTOFF positions. Source: AAIB India / Preliminary Report on AI171
Read: Opinion: Truth, Unfiltered – A Case for True Independence of the AAIB
💬 Join the conversation: We’d love to hear your take on X (Twitter) or LinkedIn.
