Air India Flight 171 Crash: Preliminary Report Imminent, Fuel Switches Under Scrutiny

Air India Flight 171 Crash Investigation: Preliminary Report Expected This Week

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in India is expected to release its preliminary report on the Air India Flight AI 171 crash this week, July 7-13, 2025. The crash, which occurred on June 12, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 241 passengers and over 30 people on the ground, making it one of India's deadliest aviation disasters in recent history. Only one passenger survived. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff.

Focus on Fuel Control Switches

The investigation is primarily focused on the possibility that the fuel control switches in the cockpit were accidentally or intentionally moved to the "cutoff" position, halting fuel flow and causing the engines to shut down within seconds. This information comes from sources familiar with the ongoing investigation, reported by outlets such as Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems and a former airline pilot, confirmed that such an action would lead to an immediate engine shutdown.

No Mechanical Fault Found (So Far)

Importantly, investigators have not yet found evidence of a mechanical or design fault in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or its GE Aerospace engines. Neither the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) nor the manufacturers have issued safety advisories, indicating that a broader operational risk hasn't been detected at this stage of the investigation.

Black Box Data Analyzed

Both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) have been recovered and their contents extracted and are currently undergoing detailed analysis by investigators.

Pilot Experience Under Review

The experience and backgrounds of the cockpit crew are also under scrutiny, a standard procedure in such investigations. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had logged 8,200 flight hours, while First Officer Clive Kunder had approximately 1,100 hours, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Mayday Call and Rapid Descent

The pilot issued a mayday call before the crash. The aircraft, fully fueled, experienced a rapid and catastrophic loss of altitude before impacting a student hostel near the Ahmedabad airport. Aerospace analyst Bjorn Fehrm noted that videos of the takeoff indicated the landing gear was never retracted and the aircraft lost thrust soon after lift-off, describing a simultaneous dual engine failure as "improbable like hell."

Government and Parliamentary Scrutiny

Top officials from the AAIB briefed a parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism, and culture this week, providing an update on the investigation. The committee expressed concerns about aviation safety standards, air traffic controller workload, uncontrolled urban expansion near airports, and vacancies within the DGCA.

A separate high-level committee, headed by the Union home secretary, is reviewing the crash and is expected to recommend strengthened aviation safety guidelines.

International Collaboration

The investigation is attracting significant international attention, particularly given that this is the first major crash involving a Boeing 787. Agencies like the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are assisting in the process.

Stakeholders and Potential Consequences

The crash has placed intense scrutiny on several stakeholders: Air India, facing a major setback in its modernization efforts; Boeing, whose reputation is further challenged by this incident; and the DGCA, facing questions regarding its oversight and capacity. The potential for lawsuits is significant, and the findings will undoubtedly lead to critical discussions about human error, technical systems, and emergency procedures in aviation.

Timeline of Events

June 12, 2025: Air India Flight AI 171 crashes shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. July 7-13, 2025 (Expected): Release of the preliminary AAIB investigation report.