The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report on the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171, which claimed the lives of 260 people on June 12, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The report provides the first official account of what may have led to the disaster, shedding light on a potentially catastrophic sequence involving the aircraft’s fuel cutoff switches.
According to the report, both engines lost power seconds after takeoff when the fuel cutoff switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF — effectively cutting off fuel supply and triggering engine failure. The engines did begin restart sequences, but the aircraft had already lost crucial altitude, making recovery impossible. However, the investigation has not yet determined whether the fuel cutoff was due to pilot error, mechanical malfunction, or electronic failure.
While several factors have been ruled out — including weather, bird strike, and fuel quality — many vital questions remain. The report certainly shows the complexity of the ongoing investigation and the need for deeper technical analysis before final conclusions are drawn.
See the full preliminary report here