The Ahmedabad Air India Crash: – Latest Updates (As of July 12, 2025)
This past month, on June 12, 2025, a tragic event unfolded in Ahmedabad, India, as Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff. The disaster claimed the lives of 241 people on board and an additional 19 on the ground, making it one of India's worst aviation accidents in recent history. Only one passenger miraculously survived.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) immediately launched a multi-disciplinary investigation, with international experts including Boeing assisting in the probe. The preliminary report, released today, July 12, 2025, has shed critical light on the devastating final moments of the flight, though the ultimate cause remains under intense investigation.
The Unthinkable: Fuel Cutoff Seconds After Liftoff – Key Findings from the Preliminary Report
The preliminary findings indicate a shocking and unprecedented sequence of events, primarily focusing on the aircraft's engine fuel control switches:
* Rapid Ascent and Immediate Crisis: The Boeing 787-8, registration VT-ANB, lifted off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad) at approximately 1:38:39 PM IST. The aircraft reached its maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots at 1:38:42 PM IST.
* Simultaneous Engine Fuel Cutoff: Crucially, the preliminary report confirmed that the fuel control switches for both engines (Engine 1 and Engine 2) transitioned from the "RUN" to the "CUTOFF" position, one after another, within a single second, at 1:38:42 PM IST. This abrupt action immediately starved both engines of fuel, causing a catastrophic loss of thrust.
* Cockpit Confusion and Mayday Call: The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captured a moment of profound confusion and alarm among the pilots. One pilot was heard asking the other, "Why did you cut off the fuel?" to which the other replied, "I did not do so." A desperate "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY" distress call was issued at approximately 1:39:05 PM IST, just moments before impact.
* Attempted Recovery, Too Late: The report notes that the fuel switches were subsequently moved back to the "RUN" position for both engines at 1:38:52 PM IST (Engine 1) and 1:38:56 PM IST (Engine 2). This was evidently an attempt by the pilots to recover thrust. However, given the extremely low altitude of the aircraft (around 400 feet maximum), there was insufficient time for the engines to relight and recover to a level that would have allowed the aircraft to climb to safety. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency power source, was deployed immediately after engine shutdown, further indicating a total loss of power.
* Impact and Devastation: The aircraft, unable to gain power, descended rapidly and impacted the residential quarters of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, resulting in a massive explosion and widespread destruction on the ground. The final data recording stopped at 1:39:11 PM IST, approximately 32 seconds after takeoff.
Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Investigation
While the preliminary report has definitively identified the immediate cause of the power loss – the fuel cutoff – the crucial question of why the fuel control switches moved to the "CUTOFF" position remains the central focus of the ongoing investigation. The AAIB has stated that the report does not determine what caused the fuel switches to move, or apportion blame.
The investigation is actively focusing on:
* Human Action: Could there have been an inadvertent or intentional action by the pilots that led to the switches being moved? The cockpit voice recording suggests confusion rather than a deliberate act. The preliminary report identifies the co-pilot, Clive Kunder, as the pilot flying, and commander Sumeet Sabharwal as the pilot monitoring. Both had sufficient rest and passed pre-flight breathalyzer tests.
* Mechanical Failure: Could a mechanical fault in the switch mechanism itself have caused them to move? These switches are designed to be resistant to accidental movement.
* Electronic/Software Malfunction: Was there an electronic or software glitch within the aircraft's systems, such as the Throttle Control Module Assembly (TCMA) or Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), that could have commanded the fuel cutoff or incorrectly sensed the aircraft's state? Investigators are exploring this possibility, given past instances of software anomalies in Boeing 787s.
* Prior Defect Report: The report notes that the aircraft had a defect reported by the previous crew concerning a "stabilizer sensor" (STAB POS XDCR). While Air India's maintenance cleared the aircraft for flight after troubleshooting, investigators will be examining if this or any other prior issue could have indirectly contributed to the sequence of events.
The investigation has, however, ruled out several other potential causes, including:
* Weather conditions: The weather was reported as good with clear skies.
* Bird strike: No evidence of a bird strike was found in CCTV footage or physical examination.
* Aircraft configuration: Flaps and landing gear were in normal takeoff positions.
* Weight and balance: The aircraft was within certified operating limits with 54,200 kilograms of fuel onboard.
* Fuel quality: Samples from fuel trucks tested satisfactory.
* Pre-existing engine problems: Both engines appeared to be operating normally until the fuel cutoff.
* Sabotage: No immediate evidence of sabotage has been found.
The Aftermath and Broader Implications
The Ahmedabad crash is the first fatal accident resulting in a hull loss for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This incident has naturally led to increased scrutiny of aviation safety protocols, pilot training, and the intricate systems of modern aircraft.
In response to the crash, Air India has acknowledged the preliminary report and stated its full cooperation with the AAIB. The airline has also released interim compensation to some families and the Tata Group has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹1 crore (approximately £85,000) to the families of each deceased. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered enhanced safety inspections of Air India's Boeing 787 and 777 fleets, and Air India has temporarily reduced services on some routes (including Delhi-Nairobi, Amritsar-London Gatwick, and Goa-London Gatwick) until at least July 15, 2025.
As the AAIB continues its exhaustive analysis of the flight data recorders (FDRs) and cockpit voice recordings, the aviation world awaits the final report. The meticulous detail in this preliminary report, unusual for such early stages of an investigation, highlights the complexity and critical nature of the unanswered questions. The lone survivor and the families of the victims seek answers and a commitment to enhanced safety in the skies to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
