AHMEDABAD –A preliminary investigation into the Air India crash that killed 260 people last month has revealed that both engines lost fuel supply moments after takeoff, causing the jet to plunge into a hostel near a hospital in India’s Gujarat State.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, went down shortly after leaving the runway at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. The crash killed nearly everyone on board and several people on the ground. Only one passenger survived.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said the cockpit’s fuel control switches had been turned off seconds after the plane reached an airspeed of 180 knots. Data retrieved from the aircraft’s black boxes captured cockpit audio, with one pilot heard asking the other: “Why did you cutoff?” The second responded: “I did not.”
Both engines shut down within seconds of one another. The pilots managed to return the switches to the correct setting, and the systems began initiating a relight sequence when the aircraft crashed.
The switches, located between the pilots’ seats behind the throttle, are protected by a locking mechanism to prevent accidental engagement. Investigators are now trying to determine how they were both flipped to the “cutoff” position mid-flight.
Surveillance footage from the airport showed the emergency Ram Air Turbine had deployed shortly after takeoff—a sign the aircraft had lost power. The plane began losing altitude before clearing the airport perimeter.
The investigation ruled out common hazards such as poor-quality fuel or bird strikes. Both engines had recently been installed, and the aircraft’s takeoff configuration was found to be within safety guidelines, including proper flap settings and fuel quality.
According to the report, the captain had logged over 15,000 flying hours and was 56 years old. The first officer, 32, had more than 3,400 hours of flight time. There were 242 people on board—mostly Indian nationals—with others from the UK, Portugal, and Canada.
The plane crashed into the BJ Medical College and Hospital’s hostel building, killing an unknown number of people on the ground and adding to the already heavy toll.
Air India said it has received the report and pledged to continue cooperating with investigators. The airline issued a public message of condolence to families and survivors.
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