Air India crash report updates: Fuel switches were cut off before plane went down, preliminary findings say
The London Gatwick-bound flight came down in a residential area of Ahmedabad on 12 June, killing a total of 260 people.
The 15-page document published by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which is part of the ongoing probe into what caused the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to come down, found that fuel control switches were moved to 'cut-off' position as the aircraft rose from take-off.
The report also includes a conversation between the pilots on the fuel controls before the crash.
'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut-off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so,' the report said.
Of the 242 people onboard flight AI171 to London Gatwick, 241 were killed, including 53 British nationals. The flight crashed into a hostel complex at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College, killing several students and residents on the ground.
Only one passenger – a British-Indian man seated in 11A – survived.
Fuel samples tested and found to be normal, report says
Fuel taken from the airport's bowsers and tanks used to refuel the plane was tested by the aviation regulator's lab and found satisfactory, the preliminary report said.
Only very small amounts of fuel could be retrieved from parts of the crashed aircraft itself.
These will be tested separately at a specialist lab, investigators said.
Jabed Ahmed12 July 2025 03:00
Wreckage moved and examined after crash
Investigators say the wreckage from the Air India crash has been moved to a secure area near Ahmedabad airport.
Drone photos and videos were taken at the site before the wreckage was cleared, the report said.
Both of the aircraft's engines have been recovered from the crash site and stored in a hangar for detailed checks, the report added.
Other important components have also been identified and quarantined for further examination.
Jabed Ahmed12 July 2025 02:28
Plane had been checked for technical issue before flight
On the morning of the flight, engineers had checked the aircraft for a technical alert after it landed from Delhi, but cleared it to fly, the report said.
The pilots had arrived the day before, had enough rest, and passed pre-flight alcohol tests, it added.
Jabed Ahmed12 July 2025 01:58
Crash happened seconds after take-off, report says
A preliminary report into the Air India flight that crashed in June shows the engines lost power just seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad.
Investigators say the plane initially lifted off normally and reached 180 knots. But almost immediately, both engine fuel switches flipped from 'run' to 'cutoff' within about a second of each other, cutting off fuel and causing the engines to shut down.
Jabed Ahmed12 July 2025 01:43
What next after preliminary report published
The investigation remains ongoing.
Under international rules, a full report must be published within a year of the accident.
For now, experts are continuing to study the black box data and other evidence to understand what caused the sudden loss of power so soon after take-off.
Jabed Ahmed12 July 2025 01:29
Air India flight 'was doomed' without sufficient power, says travel expert Simon Calder
Air India flight 'was doomed' without sufficient power, says Simon Calder
After studying the preliminary report on the Air India crash, The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder picks out three elements of the 32-second flight
Jabed Ahmed12 July 2025 01:14
Watch | Air India crash sole survivor recalls how he escaped plane
Jabed Ahmed12 July 2025 00:59
Blackboxes were found on 24 June
On 24 June, the two black boxes were flown separately from Ahmedabad to an AAIB lab in Delhi on Indian Air Force aircraft.
That evening, investigators began extracting the data with help from technical experts from the AAIB and NTSB.
By 25 June, they had successfully accessed and downloaded data from the front recorder, which has an independent backup power supply to keep recording for about ten minutes if the plane loses power.
Jabed Ahmed12 July 2025 00:36
Timeline of events: 12-16 June
12 June: Air India flight crashes after take-off
On 12 June, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner heading for London crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived. This was the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade, sparking an urgent investigation by Indian authorities.
13 June: Full investigation launched with U.S. experts involved
The day after the crash, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) formally launched an investigation. The team is led by the AAIB's director general and includes specialists in aviation medicine and air traffic control, alongside representatives from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The investigation focused on recovering and analysing the plane's black boxes.
13–16 June: Black boxes recovered from the crash site
Boeing 787 aircraft have two data recorders, one at the front and one at the rear, each storing cockpit voice and flight data. On 13 June, the first black box was recovered from the roof of a building near the crash site. Three days later, on 16 June, the second recorder was found among the wreckage.
Jabed Ahmed12 July 2025 00:09
Watch | The British victims of Air India plane crash
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Why the Air India crash report leaves devastated families with more questions
Early findings of an investigation into the Air India crash last month have revealed the plane's fuel switches were cut off after take-off, leaving victim's families with more questions and seeking 'justice and answers'. The preliminary report from India 's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), published on Friday, said both of the plane's fuel switches were moved to the 'cut-off' position 'immediately' after take-off, stopping fuel supply to the engine. It included a harrowing transcript of a cockpit conversation between the pilots, one asks the other why he cut-off, before the other responded to say he did not. Experts have since said it is not easy to 'accidentally' cut off fuel switches. The findings have left some families of victims questioning how the tragedy took place, and if it was avoidable. Badasab Syed, 59, who lost his brother, 49-year-old IT professional Inayat Syed, his sister-in-law, and their two children in the incident said he has just been left with more questions. He told the BBC: 'The report mentions the pilots discussing who turned off fuel and a possible issue with the fuel control switch. We don't know what that means? Was it avoidable?' The London Gatwick-bound flight crashed just moments after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on 12 June killing all but one of the 242 people on board the plane and about 19 on the ground. The fuel switches are used to start the jet engines, shut them down or reset them in emergencies. Experts say they are the kind used on every flight, and designed so that this cannot easily 'accidentally' happen. After being cut-off, they were returned to their normal inflight position, which triggered an automatic engine relight and a thrust recovery procedure. But despite the engines starting to recover, the cut-off had caused both to lose thrust, the AAIB report find, and the plane tragically came down in a residential area close to the airport. The Air India Flight 171 had been airborne for less than a minute. In a statement, relatives of Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa, all from Gloucester, who died in the crash, described the report as 'the first stepping stone' and said the family are still 'working our way through the weight of our loss'. They added: 'Moving forwards, we require honesty, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to uncovering the full truth. 'We seek justice and answers, both of which are essential for us to find any sense of closure. 'We accept God's fate, but knowing what happened will help ease our hearts and allow us to begin the long journey of healing. 'Above all, we hope that by pursuing the truth, no other family will ever have to endure the shock, uncertainty, and profound sorrow that we have lived through this past month.' The cousin of sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi, who were flying home to London after surprising their grandmother for her birthday and died in the crash, said he was 'not satisfied' by the report. Ishan Baxi, who lives in Ahmedabad, said: 'We're still hoping for a more transparent and honest investigation that doesn't shy away from addressing possible mechanical flaws or lapses in protocol to avoid future potential accidents.' He added: 'I just hope the final report brings full clarity on what exactly failed and who's accountable. 'It shouldn't hide behind vague terms. 'More than anything, it should push for real changes so this never happens again.' Director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University, Professor Graham Braithwaite explained the fuel switches were designed so they cannot easily be 'accidentally' turned off and pilots would generally run through a checklist before doing so, he said. 'For obvious reasons, the two switches are a distance apart, so not a huge distance, but enough that you couldn't accidentally switch two when you're trying to switch one.' Prof Braithwaite said that if the switch had been moved by a person, that would have been a 'very unusual thing to do' at below 1,000 feet. The aircraft was about 11 years old, the fuel switches had been changed two years ago, and the crash was a 'really, really unusual event', he added. A lawyer advising some of the families affected by the crash said the findings were 'deeply concerning'. Demetrius Danas, an aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: 'We're continuing to speak with and advise families who've been affected by the Air India crash. 'Understandably, all they want is to be provided with answers.' The only surviving passenger on the plane was Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who previously told The Sun it was a 'miracle' he was alive but felt 'terrible' he could not save his brother Ajay. Some 169 Indian passengers and 52 British nationals were killed, making it one of the deadliest plane crashes in terms of the number of British fatalities. If the final investigation takes more than a year to complete, an interim report would be issued on the anniversary of the crash, Professor Braithwaite said, adding that interim recommendations could be made at any time. The preliminary report said that all crew members had been breathalysed on their arrival at Ahmedabad airport, which found they were 'fit to operate the flight'. No significant bird activity was spotted near the flight path and the aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall. Investigators have identified 'components of interest for further examinations', the report says. An Air India spokesman said: 'We continue to fully co-operate with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and other authorities as their investigation progresses. 'Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such inquiries to the AAIB.'
Channel 4
3 hours ago
- Channel 4
Air India crash: 2018 US aviation report warned about fuel control switches
The preliminary report into the Air India crash which killed at least 260 people has found that fuel supplies to both engines were apparently mistakenly cut off – moments after the plane took off. According to the report, amid confusion in the cockpit one of the pilots transmitted a Mayday signal and the switches were turned back – but it was too late. Reporter: Anja Popp Producer: Thom Walker Editor: Lorenzo Dodi
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Air India pilot's mistake uncovered in report 'couldn't have been accident'
An aviation expert said the alleged fatal error made moments before tragic Air India Flight 171 crashed would not have been an easy one to make due to fuel switch design The alleged fatal mistake made by the pilots on the doomed Air India flight that crashed was not an easy one to make, an aviation expert has said. A preliminary report into the crash, that killed 241 onboard the flight, claimed the fuel switches to the engine were reportedly cut off prior to the tragic air disaster. An expert has since claimed these switches are the kind used on every flight, and designed so that this cannot easily "accidentally" happen. The London Gatwick -bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12. A preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, published on Friday, said both of the plane's fuel switches moved to the "cut-off" position "immediately" after take-off, stopping fuel supply to the engine. This report said: "In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut-off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so." The switches were then returned to their normal inflight position, which triggered an automatic engine relight and a thrust recovery procedure. While the engines started to recover, one of the pilots transmitted a "mayday, mayday, mayday" message before the plane was seen by air traffic control to crash outside the airport. Aviation expert Professor Graham Braithwaite, at Cranfield University, said these fuel switches are used at the end of every flight and in emergency scenarios such as a fire. They are designed so they cannot easily be "accidentally" turned off and pilots would generally run through a checklist before doing so, he added. The professor said: "For obvious reasons, the two switches are a distance apart, so not a huge distance, but enough that you couldn't accidentally switch two when you're trying to switch one. "So it's not like the lights in your house, where they're right next to each other, so there is some space between them. They're in that centre console, so that's in between the two pilots, so they can each reach them with the same ease." Professor Braithwaite said if the switch had been touched by a person at below 1,000 feet, it would have been a "very unusual thing to do". He said: "It's not the point of flight where you try and call for your coffee, it's a period of flight where your focus is very, very clear, and that first 1,000 feet, it's about keeping the airplane climbing and that's not about clicking switches." The professor added: "I could see why a nervous flyer would be nervous at the thought that it's possible to shut both engines down at a critical stage in flight, but for whatever reason, and that there are a number of things that are in place to stop it from accidentally happening." The doomed aircraft was around 11 years old, the fuel switches had been changed two years ago, and the crash was a "really, really unusual event", according to Professor Braithwaite. Of the next stage of the investigation, he said: "If somebody did wilfully move a switch, then was it on the one hand a wilful active sabotage, in which case the investigation changes considerably, because this safety investigation that published the report yesterday will not be leading on that, that would be a police investigation. "So that would change at that point, but if it wasn't clear that it was that wilful action, you'd be looking at, well, what kind of mistake might somebody have made?" If the final investigation takes more than a year to complete, an interim report would be issued on the anniversary of the crash, Professor Braithwaite said, adding that interim recommendations could be made at any time. The preliminary report said all crew members had been breathalysed on their arrival at Ahmedabad airport, and found they were "fit to operate the flight". No significant bird activity was spotted near the flight path and the aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall. Both engines were retrieved from the wreckage and quarantined at a hangar in the nearby airport. Investigators have identified "components of interest for further examinations", the report says. An Air India spokesman said: "Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time." The spokesman added: "Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully co-operate with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and other authorities as their investigation progresses. Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such inquiries to the AAIB."
