Air India Crash Report Unveils Key Findings Amid Ongoing Investigations

An official preliminary report regarding the catastrophic Air India flight AI171 crash on June 12, 2025, has provided critical insights into the circumstances surrounding the disaster, yet it raises numerous questions that remain unanswered. The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, resulted in the deaths of 241 individuals onboard and 19 more on the ground, marking it the deadliest aviation accident in a decade.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has revealed in its report that both engines of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced a sudden loss of fuel supply during ascent due to the fuel switches being transitioned from the 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' position. The black box data indicates that the aircraft reached 180 knots when the switches were simultaneously flipped, cutting off fuel flow to the engines. An audio recording from the cockpit captures a conversation between the pilots, with one questioning the other about the switch being flipped, to which the second pilot denies any action.

Geoffrey Dell, an air safety specialist and former investigator, expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of both switches being flipped inadvertently, noting that the design of the switches requires a deliberate action to disengage them. "It’s not the sort of thing you can do inadvertently," Dell stated, emphasizing the peculiar nature of such a critical error occurring immediately after takeoff.

While the report elucidates a fundamental cause of the crash, it does not clarify how the switches were engaged in the 'CUTOFF' position, leaving room for speculation about possible pilot error, technical malfunctions, or other contributing factors. The report also referenced an information bulletin issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2018 regarding potential issues with the fuel control switch locking mechanism; however, Air India had not conducted inspections based on the bulletin as it was not deemed a safety concern at the time.

Ehsan Khalid, a former pilot, cautioned against hastily assigning blame to the crew, asserting that the report does not conclusively point to pilot error as the primary cause of the accident. "The pilots were aware that the aircraft engine power had been lost and did not take any actions to cause this," Khalid remarked.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions until the final report is released, which is expected to take several months. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Air India has pledged its full cooperation with ongoing investigations.

As the aviation community awaits further findings, the implications of this accident extend beyond immediate safety concerns to broader questions regarding aircraft design and operational protocols in the industry. The tragedy raises essential discussions about the measures needed to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring that both technical and human factors are thoroughly examined in aviation safety protocols.

The investigation continues to unfold, with stakeholders from various sectors—including aviation authorities, safety experts, and the airline industry—monitoring developments closely. As clarity emerges, the hope remains that valuable lessons will be gleaned from this tragedy to enhance air travel safety worldwide.