A preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has confirmed that fuel supply to both engines was deliberately cut off seconds after takeoff, causing the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plunged into a hostel in Ahmedabad just 30 seconds into its flight on June 12, killing 260 people — including 242 on board and 19 on the ground.
The investigation found that the engines began to lose power immediately after reaching a maximum speed of 180 knots. Both engines’ fuel cutoff switches were flipped from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” — with just one second between each switch. Although the switches were turned back on, only one engine began recovering before the plane hit the building.
The only survivor, 40-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, walked away with minor injuries — an outcome experts describe as “miraculous.”
Cockpit Audio Reveals Alarming Conversation
The most disturbing element of the report is the recorded cockpit conversation, which has sparked confusion and outrage. In the audio, one pilot questions the other: “Why did you do the cut off?” — a claim the second pilot immediately denies.
The AAIB report does not clarify whether the switch movement was accidental, intentional, or caused by a technical fault. What it does confirm is that the engines lost fuel at a critical moment, with no recorded emergency, no fire, and no system warning that would justify such a drastic action.
Experts are concerned about how casually the report treats this information. Peter Goelz, former managing director of the US National Transportation Safety Board, called the finding “deeply disturbing.”
“There’s likely much more on the cockpit voice recorder than what’s been made public,” Goelz told the BBC. “A lone remark like that is not enough. The question remains: who shut off the fuel — and why?”
Families Demand Real Answers, Not Just Data
For families of the victims, the report offers little solace and more questions than clarity. Imtiyaz Ali, who lost his brother, sister-in-law, and their two children, expressed deep frustration.
“This reads like a product description, not an explanation for why 260 people are dead,” Ali said. “We’ve been grieving since that day, and we still don’t know who’s responsible. The conversation is there, the data is there, but the truth is still missing.”
Ali, like many others, wants a full release of the cockpit voice recording, including the moments before and after the remark about the fuel cutoff. So far, only selected audio has been referenced, fueling speculation that key parts are being withheld.
Aviation experts say that cutting fuel supply mid-air is only done in emergencies, like a fire or complete engine failure — none of which occurred in this case, according to the report.
What Happens Next?
Investigators say the final report could take months, possibly longer. In the meantime, public pressure is mounting. Aviation watchdogs, global news outlets, and the families of the deceased are demanding a transparent release of all black box data.
Air India has yet to issue a detailed public response, and no statement has been made about whether the pilots involved had prior disciplinary history or technical concerns before the flight.
With no definitive conclusion on whether it was pilot error, sabotage, or a system failure, one thing is certain: the world wants answers, and grieving families deserve the truth.
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