Air India Crash Linked to Fuel Switch Error \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A preliminary investigation into the deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad reveals the aircraft’s engines were starved of fuel after fuel control switches were mistakenly set to “cutoff.” The crash killed 260 people and is among India’s worst aviation disasters. Investigators cited cockpit confusion and possible human error moments before impact.
Quick Looks
- Air India Boeing 787 crashed June 12 in Ahmedabad
- 260 people died, including 19 on the ground
- Fuel switches moved to “cutoff” just before crash
- Engines lost thrust due to fuel starvation
- Pilots confused, cockpit voice recorder confirms
- MAYDAY call made seconds before impact
- Only one passenger survived the crash
- No recommendations made to Boeing as of now
- Black boxes recovered and analyzed in India
- Fleet-wide Dreamliner checks ordered across Air India
Deep Look
Fuel Cutoff Error Blamed for Air India Crash That Killed 260
A tragic aviation disaster in India is now being linked to cockpit confusion and a critical fuel control mistake, according to a preliminary investigation report released Saturday by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The Air India Flight that crashed on June 12 in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 19 on the ground, experienced a catastrophic loss of engine power when both fuel control switches were mistakenly moved to the “cutoff” position, starving the engines mid-flight.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members on what should have been a routine departure. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese travelers, and one Canadian. Remarkably, only one passenger survived the crash, which has become one of the deadliest in Indian aviation history.
According to the report, the flight lasted less than a minute. Roughly 30 seconds after takeoff, and just after the aircraft hit its top recorded speed, both Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel control switches were transitioned from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within the span of a second. These switches control the flow of fuel to the engines, and turning them to “cutoff” effectively shuts the engines down mid-flight.
Cockpit Confusion as Fuel Cutoffs Trigger Engine Failure
Investigators noted that there was apparent confusion in the cockpit in the critical moments leading to the crash. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot urgently asking the other, “Why did you cut off the fuel?” to which the second pilot responded, “I didn’t.” This brief exchange underscores the uncertainty investigators face in determining whether the switch activation was accidental or due to a malfunction.
The report did not explain how or why both fuel control switches were moved nearly simultaneously, and whether the movement was intentional, inadvertent, or the result of mechanical interference. However, it does confirm that the switches were flipped back into the “RUN” position after the engines failed—but by then, it was too late to recover power quickly enough to stop the aircraft’s rapid descent.
One of the pilots issued a distress signal, shouting “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” shortly before the aircraft slammed into a populated area in northwestern Ahmedabad, killing dozens on the ground and causing widespread damage.
India’s AAIB Investigates, Boeing Not Yet Implicated
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau stated that while the report is preliminary, it sheds early light on a key cause: loss of engine thrust due to the accidental or unexplained deactivation of fuel flow.
As of now, the report does not recommend any immediate actions or design changes to Boeing or its 787 Dreamliner model. However, Indian regulators have ordered a full fleet review of all 33 Dreamliner aircraft currently operated by Air India. The goal is to assess any mechanical vulnerabilities or systemic issues that may have contributed to the accident.
Air India has expressed full cooperation with the investigation. In an official statement, the airline said:
“Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.”
Black Box Data Supports Sudden Fuel Cutoff Theory
Both the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR)—commonly referred to as the aircraft’s “black boxes”—were successfully recovered from the crash site within days. Their data, analyzed in India, has been instrumental in piecing together the sequence of events.
The black box recordings confirmed that both engines abruptly lost thrust shortly after takeoff and that both fuel cutoff switches had been flipped during flight. The near-instantaneous drop in power and the inability to regain thrust in time made a safe recovery impossible, investigators concluded.
This discovery has raised critical safety questions regarding cockpit ergonomics and procedural protocols. Aviation experts have speculated whether the design or placement of the fuel switches may allow accidental engagement, particularly during high-stress or high-vibration scenarios immediately after takeoff.
National and Global Aviation Impact
The disaster has prompted concerns not just within India but across the international aviation community. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a long-haul, wide-body jet known for its fuel efficiency and technological sophistication, is widely used by carriers around the globe. Any mechanical or procedural flaw that contributed to the Ahmedabad crash will be closely scrutinized.
While Boeing has not been officially faulted in the AAIB’s early report, aviation analysts expect the U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer to conduct its own internal review. The report’s lack of immediate recommendations for Boeing may change as the investigation progresses.
Meanwhile, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun mandatory re-training programs for pilots flying Boeing 787s and is evaluating cockpit procedures across Air India’s operations. The goal is to ensure every flight crew is fully briefed on fuel control protocols and possible failure recovery techniques.
Survivor’s Account and Path Forward
The sole survivor of the crash—a 27-year-old Indian software engineer seated near the rear of the aircraft—was pulled from the wreckage with severe burns and multiple fractures. Doctors have described the recovery as “miraculous,” and the survivor is expected to be a key witness as the investigation deepens.
As India continues to mourn the tragedy, memorials have been held across multiple countries to honor the victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued condolences and has vowed full transparency in the investigation.
The AAIB’s final report is expected within the next 90 days, and may contain safety recommendations, procedural reforms, or design critiques that could affect aviation protocols globally.
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