The Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft that crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12 lost both its engines just seconds into the flight due to a sudden cutoff in fuel supply, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed in its preliminary report released early Saturday.
According to a media report, the flight—AI 171—crashed within 34 seconds of take-off after both engine fuel control switches transitioned from the ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ position within three seconds of becoming airborne. This unexpected action caused both engines to shut down mid-air, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust.Cockpit voice recordings revealed confusion in the cockpit. One pilot was heard asking, “Why did you cut off?” to which the other responded, “I did not do so.” Investigators suggest a possible miscommunication or inadvertent switch activation as a likely cause.The co-pilot, Clive Kundar, was flying the aircraft, while Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 8,600 hours on the Boeing 787, was acting as the pilot monitoring. Kundar had logged over 1,100 hours on the aircraft type. The report confirmed that both pilots had sufficient rest prior to the flight.The report also stated that the fuel switches were turned back to the ‘RUN’ position shortly after the cutoff, with engine gas temperatures (EGTs) rising, indicating attempts at engine relight. However, the efforts were too late to recover control.The flight lasted barely half a minute before crashing, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard and several others on the ground, bringing the total death toll close to 270.Notably, the report mentions that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) in 2018 about the possible disengagement of the fuel switch locking mechanism. However, Air India had not performed the recommended inspection as the SAIB was advisory, not mandatory.The aircraft and engines were otherwise compliant with all applicable airworthiness directives and service bulletins. The weather was clear and the aircraft’s weight within operational limits at the time of departure.While no immediate recommendations have been issued for operators of Boeing 787-8 aircraft or GE GEnx-1B engines, the AAIB stated that the investigation remains ongoing. Further evidence and stakeholder inputs are being examined.In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Air India expressed condolences: “We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators.”The tragic incident has raised fresh concerns over cockpit protocols and safety bulletin compliance, even as aviation authorities continue to piece together the final moments of the ill-fated flight.