Ahmedabad Air India Crash: Latest AAIB Report Insights
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a 15-page preliminary report on July 12, 2025, detailing critical findings and raising concerns about potential sabotage. Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025. The tragedy claimed 265 lives—241 of the 242 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, as well as 24 people on the ground.
Detailed AAIB Preliminary Report Findings
The AAIB report states that within three seconds of takeoff at 1:38:42 p.m. IST, both engine fuel control switches were toggled from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ almost at the same moment, shutting off fuel to the engines. This caused a rapid loss of thrust, leading to the crash at 1:39 p.m. The cockpit voice recording captured a moment of confusion, as one pilot asked, ‘Why did you cut off?’ and the other responded, ‘I didn’t do so,’ implying the action wasn’t intentional. The switches were returned to “RUN” 10-12 seconds later, but only one engine showed signs of recovery, while the second continued decelerating. The black box stopped recording 17 seconds later.
The report found no fuel switch issues after the 2023 throttle module change, and fuel tests were satisfactory. The ram air turbine (RAT) deployed, indicating a power loss, but no mechanical or design flaws in the Boeing 787-8 or GE GEnx-1B engines were identified. The AAIB has opted not to advise Boeing or GE at this stage, focusing instead on collecting more evidence.
Investigation Focus: Sabotage and Technical Malfunction
The investigation, led by the AAIB with support from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), UK AAIB, and experts from Boeing and GE, is exploring sabotage as a potential cause. The Ministry of State for Civil Aviation confirmed scrutiny of ground staff, with phones seized and CCTV footage analyzed. A former pilot suggested a chip malfunction, not pilot error, could explain the switch movement, as no pilot would intentionally cut fuel mid-flight.
The black box data, retrieved in Delhi on June 25, 2025, is being analyzed under ICAO Annex 13 protocols. The Gujarat Anti Terrorism Squad recovered the aircraft’s digital video recorder, providing additional footage for review. The investigation also examines maintenance records and pilot training, with Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 hours) and First Officer Clive Kundar (1,100 hours) confirmed to have had adequate rest.
Impact and Public Sentiment
A hostel at B.J. Medical College was hit in the crash, resulting in 19 deaths and 67 injuries. The sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, escaped via an emergency exit. Public sentiment on X reflects grief and calls for accountability, with families like Badasab Syed’s demanding clarity.
Conclusion
The Ahmedabad Air India crash investigation points to a mysterious fuel switch cutoff, with sabotage and technical malfunctions under scrutiny. As the AAIB continues its probe, the tragedy underscores the urgency of aviation safety reforms. Updates will follow as new evidence emerges.
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