AHMEDABAD — The preliminary investigation into the deadly crash of Air India Flight 171 has uncovered a possible cockpit error involving fuel cut-off switches, but leaves critical gaps that continue to fuel questions, skepticism, and accusations of withholding evidence.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner plunged into a residential block in Ahmedabad just 47 seconds after takeoff on July 12. All 241 passengers and crew on board were killed, along with 19 people on the ground. Only one passenger survived. The aircraft was en route to London.
India’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its initial 15-page report over the weekend. Though the document outlines basic facts, it stops short of confirming what caused the crash. Investigators disclosed that both engine fuel control switches were flipped to the “cut-off” position seconds after takeoff shutting down the engines. Restart efforts came too late.
Flight recorder data confirmed a sharp drop in engine thrust immediately after takeoff. Moments later, one pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” The other replied, “I did not do so.” The AAIB did not include the cockpit voice recording transcript or clarify which pilot spoke.
The switches, equipped with a locking mechanism, must be deliberately pulled out before being flipped making unintentional activation unlikely. These switches are not touched during flight except in emergencies.
Aviation experts have criticized the report for selectively releasing data while withholding key information.
“The absence of the full cockpit transcript is unacceptable,” said aviation analyst Bjorn Fehrm. “We’re told what they want us to know, and not what matters most.”
The report also references a 2018 U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety bulletin which warned that some Boeing 737 aircraft had fuel switches installed without locking features. The FAA recommended inspections but did not mandate them, stating there was no confirmed safety hazard. Though the switches in question were different from those on the Dreamliner, the AAIB still flagged the lack of documented inspections by Air India.
An internal FAA memo reviewed by the press reaffirms that the issue posed no flight risk. Engineers note that Flight 171’s throttle control module including fuel switches was replaced two years prior, likely ruling out the FAA advisory as a factor.
Air India’s pilot union condemned the growing speculation of deliberate sabotage or suicide. “To suggest intentional action without verified proof is reckless and deeply hurtful to grieving families,” the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association said in a statement.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson echoed that view, urging staff not to “jump to conclusions.”
Some aviation professionals suggest the switches may have been intentionally flipped as part of a misguided response to an unrelated engine issue. “If an engine showed signs of power loss, it’s possible a pilot tried to restart it using the cut-off method,” one engineer said, referencing the limited data available in the report.
Tim Atkinson, a former crash investigator, criticized the vague wording. “The worst kind of reports are those written to be interpreted between the lines,” he said. “This leaves too many unanswered questions.”
Investigators are now under pressure to release the full cockpit voice transcript, detailed engine data, and other flight metrics. The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered all operators flying Boeing models covered by the FAA’s bulletin to complete inspections by July 21.
International aviation law requires a final crash report to be published within 12 months. However, delays are common in complex investigations. For now, the cause of one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history remains unresolved and critics say the truth is being held back.
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