Quick summary of the incident—Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12 in Ahmedabad—and mention the main finding from the air india plane crash report: that both engine fuel switches were inexplicably moved to “cutoff” seconds after liftoff.
Background on the Ahmedabad Crash
The tragic Air India plane crash took place on June 12, 2025, when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The flight, AI171, was scheduled to travel from Ahmedabad to London with over 270 people on board, including passengers and crew.
According to the Ahmedabad plane crash report, the aircraft had taken off normally and was climbing as expected. But within seconds, things went wrong. The jet lost both engines and plummeted into a crowded neighbourhood just a few kilometres from the airport. The impact was devastating—claiming the lives of nearly everyone on board, with only one survivor, and causing fatalities on the ground as well.
This marks one of the deadliest incidents in India’s aviation history and is particularly alarming because it involved a relatively modern aircraft. It’s also the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the model began service, making the findings in the Air India plane crash report even more critical for the global aviation community.
The incident has raised serious questions about pilot procedures, aircraft systems, and overall safety protocols, prompting a high-level investigation. The Ahmedabad plane crash report is being closely watched by international aviation bodies, as the crash has implications far beyond India.
Key Findings from the Air India Plane Crash Report
The preliminary Air India plane crash report has revealed shocking details about what happened during the final moments of Flight AI171. Just after takeoff from Ahmedabad, both engine fuel control switches were manually moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF”—essentially shutting down the engines mid-air. This critical action happened within seconds of the aircraft reaching a takeoff speed of around 180 knots.
What’s even more troubling is that the cockpit voice recordings captured the pilots expressing confusion. One of them was heard saying, “Why did the fuel cut off?”—indicating that the move was neither intentional nor understood at the time. Investigators have not yet determined if this was due to human error, mechanical failure, or something else. However, the switches were later moved back to the “RUN” position, suggesting an attempt to restart the engines.
The Ahmedabad plane crash report also confirmed that after both engines shut down, the aircraft’s emergency systems kicked in. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically to power essential controls, and the pilots tried to regain control. Unfortunately, the plane was too low and didn’t have enough time or altitude to recover.
The Air India plane crash has raised global concerns, especially because no distress signal was sent before impact. The black box data shows that everything happened so quickly that there was little time to react. While further investigation is underway, the initial report highlights a highly unusual and unexplained engine shutdown that ultimately led to one of India’s most tragic aviation disasters.
What Remains Unclear
While the Air India plane crash report has helped shed light on what physically went wrong, several major questions still remain unanswered. The biggest mystery is why both engine fuel switches were moved to the “CUTOFF” position in the first place—just moments after takeoff. Was it a case of accidental input by the pilots? A sudden mechanical glitch? Or a deeper systems failure?
So far, investigators have not found any clear evidence of intentional action or sabotage. However, they’re also not ruling out the possibility of technical malfunction. Interestingly, the Ahmedabad plane crash report mentions a prior FAA safety advisory from 2018, which flagged potential issues with the locking mechanism of similar engine switches. That advisory did not require mandatory action, and it’s unclear whether Air India had proactively inspected for this risk.
Another puzzling aspect is the lack of a distress call. Even though the cockpit voice recording shows confusion among the pilots, there was no emergency communication to air traffic control. This suggests the situation escalated far too quickly, leaving the crew with barely any time to respond.
With so many unknowns, the air india plane crash investigation is now focusing on recreating the exact sequence of cockpit actions, aircraft responses, and system behaviors. It will take time to determine whether the tragedy was due to human factors, faulty components, or a combination of both.
Airline & Regulatory Response
Following the release of the initial Air India plane crash report, both the airline and government agencies responded quickly to manage the fallout and begin corrective actions.
Air India issued a public statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy and confirmed full cooperation with investigators. The airline emphasized that Flight AI171 had undergone standard checks before departure and that the crew had valid certifications. However, in light of the Ahmedabad plane crash report, Air India has initiated internal reviews of its safety and maintenance protocols.
Regulatory bodies were quick to step in. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered immediate inspections of all Boeing 787 Dreamliners in Air India’s fleet. Particular attention is being paid to the engine fuel control systems, given their role in the air india plane crash.
Meanwhile, Boeing has pledged full technical support to the Indian investigation team. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are also involved, given the aircraft’s American origin and the international nature of the crash.
India’s civil aviation minister urged the public and media not to jump to conclusions until the final report is released. He also confirmed that black box data has been safely recovered and is under detailed analysis by a joint team of Indian and international experts.
The immediate responses reflect the seriousness of the incident. With the preliminary Air India plane crash report now public, authorities appear determined to uncover the truth and ensure such a disaster never happens again.
What Comes Next
As the investigation continues, all eyes are on the final Air India plane crash report, which is expected to provide a clearer picture of the cause and any systemic issues that need to be addressed. While the preliminary Ahmedabad plane crash report highlighted a critical mid-air fuel shutdown, the “why” behind this fatal move is still being pieced together.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India is leading the inquiry, with support from international agencies including the FAA, NTSB, and Boeing. Together, they will now examine every possible factor—from human error and training procedures to mechanical design flaws and software anomalies. This level of global collaboration shows just how significant the air india plane crash is for the entire aviation industry.
Over the coming months, additional data from simulations, system tests, and engineering evaluations will feed into the final report. Based on its findings, regulatory changes could be introduced—not only in India but globally—especially if the issue is linked to a broader problem in Dreamliner aircraft systems.
In the meantime, families of victims, aviation professionals, and the general public are hoping for answers. The tragedy has already sparked discussions about safety switch designs, emergency training protocols, and the speed at which pilots must make decisions under pressure.
Whatever the final conclusion may be, the Air India plane crash report is expected to shape future airline safety policies and possibly influence how cockpit controls are designed to avoid similar disasters.
