On 12 June 2025, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed just seconds after takeoff, marking India’s deadliest aviation tragedy in decades. Of the 242 people on board, 241 lost their lives. Nineteen more people on the ground were killed, and 67 suffered serious injuries. The sole survivor—a British national of Indian origin—escaped with only minor injuries.
The aircraft departed Ahmedabad at 13:38 IST. Moments later, at an altitude of around 625 feet, both engines abruptly lost thrust after the engine fuel control switches moved from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’—a procedure normally performed only after landing. The crash site, a residential area near B. J. Medical College, saw significant damage to student hostels and doctors’ quarters.
Investigation findings
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India, in its preliminary report, confirmed that the sudden movement of the switches led to an immediate loss of engine power. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?” to which the other responded, “I did not do so.” The report did not identify which pilot made each remark. Automatic systems attempted to restart the engines once the switches were returned to ‘RUN’, but recovery proved impossible due to the low altitude and limited time.
The preliminary report did not conclude whether the switch movement was the result of technical malfunction or human action, leaving this question open pending further investigation.
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) criticised the probe for excluding pilot representatives and relying on limited evidence, urging a broader, transparent, and data-driven inquiry before attributing any blame.
Ongoing impact
Air India and parent company Tata Group offered immediate support to victims’ families. Ahmedabad Airport briefly suspended operations, and authorities ordered safety checks across other aircraft of the same model. The tragedy has reignited debate around cockpit safety procedures and highlighted the need for thorough, inclusive investigations that consider all technical and procedural factors.