✈️ Air India Flight AI171 Crash: What the Preliminary Report Reveals

On July 2, 2025, India faced one of its most tragic aviation disasters when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport, en route to London. The accident claimed 260 lives, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground — leaving the nation in shock and mourning.

Now, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary investigation report, and the findings are both surprising and deeply concerning.

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🕵️‍♂️ What Happened? – A Quick Recap

• Flight: AI171 (Ahmedabad to London)

• Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

• Crash Location: Residential area near Ahmedabad Airport

• Fatalities: 260 (241 onboard + 19 on ground)

• Survivors: 1

• Crash Time: Within minutes of takeoff

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🚨 The Shocking Finding: Engine Fuel Was Manually Cut Off

The AAIB report reveals that both engines lost power mid-air because the fuel control switches were manually moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” just seconds after takeoff.

• The left engine fuel switch was shut off first.

• The right engine switch followed one second later.

• This action stopped fuel flow to both engines, causing total engine failure.

This was a critical moment — the aircraft was still climbing when it lost all thrust, making recovery impossible.

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🎙️ What the Pilots Said

According to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR):

🗣️ Pilot 1: "Why did you cut off [the fuel]?"
🗣️ Pilot 2: "I did not."

This exchange highlights confusion and indicates that neither pilot claimed responsibility for the switch movement. Whether it was an error, miscommunication, or something more serious remains under investigation.

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🛠️ No Sign of Mechanical Failure

So far, investigators have ruled out:

• Engine malfunction

• Fuel system failure

• Structural defects in the Boeing 787

The engines — GE GEnx models — were functioning correctly before fuel was shut off.

Interestingly, the FAA had warned airlines in 2018 about the potential for unintentional movement of the fuel switches due to design issues. However:

• The advisory was non-mandatory

• Air India did not implement modifications to the switch guards

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🔒 Could It Have Been an Accident?

Unlikely. The switches are protected by locking guards that require intentional force to move.
In the words of aviation experts:

“These switches can’t just flip on their own. You need to lift the guard and deliberately move them.”

This has raised speculation that the movement may have been:

• A serious pilot error

• An intentional act

• Or possibly sabotage

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⏭️ What Happens Next?

The AAIB and international teams (including FAA, NTSB, and UK AAIB) are continuing their detailed investigation. The final report will include:

• Human factors analysis

• Background checks on pilots and crew

• Full black box data review

• Possible systemic failures or procedural lapses

The final report is expected by late 2025 or early 2026.

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🧬 The Science Behind the Incident

In commercial aviation, aircraft like the Boeing 787 have advanced safety redundancies — dual engines, automated systems, and backup controls.

But if both engines lose power due to lack of fuel, these systems become useless.

This is why investigators are deeply focused on understanding how and why both fuel switches were shut off — just seconds apart — and whether the incident was a result of human error, negligence, or intent.

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🕯️ A National Tragedy

The crash of Air India AI171 is not just a technical failure — it's a human tragedy.
Families have lost loved ones, and communities have been devastated.
The only survivor, a 9-year-old girl, remains hospitalized and is being cared for under security protection.

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📌 Final Thoughts

The preliminary report of Flight AI171 paints a troubling picture — one where human action, not mechanical failure, may have played the most critical role.
As India and the world await the final investigation findings, one thing is clear: this tragedy has sparked urgent questions about cockpit safety, training, and technical safeguards in modern aviation.

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📰 Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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