Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (tail number VT‑ANB), crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, bound for London Gatwick. Of the 242 onboard, 241 perished along with 19 people on the ground; remarkably, there was one survivor
What happened?
Roughly 30–40 seconds after departure, the Dreamliner lost all thrust when both engine fuel-control switches were found in the CUT‑OFF position—cutting power to both engines
The cockpit voice recorder captured the First Officer sounding panicked and asking why the fuel was shut off, while the captain remained calm; one responded “I didn’t do it
Investigators have not yet concluded whether the switch activations were intentional, accidental, or system-related. The switches require deliberate action, and Boeing and Air India’s inspections thus far have not revealed technical issues
Investigation status:
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from the NTSB (US) and UK authorities, recovered black boxes and released a preliminary report confirming the fuel cut happened one after another in seconds, but without assigning blame
The Federation of Indian Pilots and IFALPA have criticized some media reports as premature and lacking pilot input
U.S. officials and media (notably the WSJ) suggest possible pilot action: the captain may have manually flipped the fuel switches—but this remains unverified and contested
DIGI MERCH STORE PRINT ON DEMAND
Current developments:
Air India has inspected similar fuel-control systems fleet-wide and, so far, found no faults
The AAIB warns against premature conclusions; the final report—likely within a year—will analyze technical, human, and procedural factors
The Aviation Minister advises waiting for conclusive data before attributing responsibility; pilot groups urge a more measured approach
https://digitalinternational.in/
Caution:
This is an evolving story. While early reports hint at possible pilot-induced action, no definitive evidence has emerged. Official findings will only be confirmed once the AAIB releases its comprehensive analysis.
Comment:
