A preliminary investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI171 exposes a chilling sequence moments after takeoff. Investigators found that both engine fuel control switches were flipped from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within a second of one another, causing dual engine failure just 30 seconds into the flight; only one engine partially relit before the aircraft crashed into a college hostel in Ahmedabad.
Cockpit voice recordings captured a tense exchange between pilots. One asked, “Why did you cutoff?” and the other responded, “I didn’t do so,” hinting at no clear admission of error. Investigators noted the switches require deliberate action, making accidental activation unlikely—raising questions about possible malfunction, human mistake, or deliberate act.
The report cleared the aircraft systems, fuel quality, and maintenance records—recently compliant with Boeing’s guidelines—for defects or procedural lapses. The Throttle Control Module housing the switches had been replaced in both 2019 and 2023, per Boeing standards, indicating the parts were sound. However, despite an FAA advisory from 2018 regarding the switch-locking mechanism, inspections weren’t mandatory and were never conducted by Air India.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has now mandated immediate global inspections of similar Boeing fuel switches, echoing measures taken by South Korea. Boeing and the FAA maintain the switch design is safe, but governments and airlines are reviewing procedures to prevent recurrence.
This tragedy—deemed India’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades—resulted in 260 deaths, including 19 on the ground, and one survivor. Black boxes and cockpit recordings have been recovered; a final report is expected within a year.
As regulators and manufacturers act, the aviation community awaits clarity on whether the incident was caused by mechanical failure, pilot action, or systemic oversight.
