Criminal Chronology of Air India Flight 171
On July 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, claiming numerous lives. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the manual shut-off of the fuel supply to the aircraft's engines played a central role in the disaster.
The incident began when both fuel control switches for the engines were moved from the "RUN" to the "CUTOFF" position just three seconds after takeoff, causing an immediate and simultaneous loss of thrust from both engines. This sudden loss of power led to the aircraft's engines shutting down in mid-air, resulting in the subsequent crash.
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recorded a crucial exchange between the pilots after the fuel cut-off occurred: one pilot asked "Why did you cutoff?" and the other responded, "I didn't," adding significant mystery to how the switches moved to cutoff without apparent pilot intent or awareness.
The fuel control switches in a Boeing 787 are designed with safeguards to prevent accidental movement during flight. They are guarded with brackets and have a metal stop lock requiring the pilot to lift the switch past the stop to move it. These switches are normally only moved on the ground during engine start or shutdown or manually by the crew in emergencies.
Moreover, the report noted that the emergency power system (Ram Air Turbine or RAT) was deployed immediately after takeoff, indicating that the engines were not providing electrical power, consistent with the engine shutdown. Despite pilots' last-minute attempts to relight the engines and ensure fuel flow, they could not restore thrust in time to prevent the crash.
The investigation also questioned whether Air India had followed an FAA advisory issued in 2018, which warned of potential issues with the fuel control switches on Boeing 787 aircraft, suggesting possible technical vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, the manual shutting off of the fuel supply to both engines — either by inadvertent switch movement or a still unclear cause — caused the sudden loss of engine power that directly led to the crash of Air India Flight 171. The cockpit voice recording adds a layer of mystery suggesting neither pilot knowingly moved the fuel cut-off switches, and the investigation focuses both on potential mechanical issues with the Boeing 787 fuel control system and human factors.
The timeline of events is as follows: - The aircraft was cleared for takeoff at 08:07:33. - The aircraft began taxiing to Runway 23 at 07:56:08. - Within 3 seconds of takeoff, both fuel control switches moved from "RUN" to "CUTOFF". - Immediate shutdown of both engines and loss of thrust. - RAT deployed indicating loss of engine power and electrical power interruption. - Cockpit voice recorder captures pilot confusion over the shutdown, with one pilot denying intentional cutoff. - Attempts to restart engines and restore fuel flow were unsuccessful. - Aircraft crashed due to loss of thrust.
The investigation into Air India Flight 171's crash is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
The aviation industry is under intense scrutiny following the crash of Air India Flight 171, as the incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in Boeing 787 fuel control systems. Finance sectors are closely monitoring the situation, as the disaster has significant implications for the transportation and airline news sectors. The manual shut-off of the fuel supply, whether due to inadvertent switch movement or unclear causes, points to a critical incident within the aviation industry.
