Dism Население of Air India Flight 171 Unnerving Chronology

On July 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 experienced a tragic crash, just minutes after takeoff. The crash report reveals a series of events that led to the disaster, not due to mechanical failure or weather, but a manual shut-off of fuel supply to the aircraft's engines.

The scheduled departure time of AI171 was 07:40, and the aircraft was cleared for takeoff at 08:07:33. As the plane began its journey, both engine fuel switches were moved to CUTOFF at 08:08:42-43, a process that can only be done manually. This critical action cut off the fuel supply to the engines, leading to a rapid loss of thrust.

The crew transmitted "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY" at 08:09:05, signalling an emergency situation. In an attempt to maintain some functionality, the Rapid Air Turbine deployed at 08:08:47, supplying hydraulic power as the engines wind down. However, it was too late. The flight data recording stopped at 08:11:11, moments before the aircraft crashed.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) preliminary report confirmed that the fuel supply to both engines was cut off just before impact, causing engine parameters to drop to idle and ultimately making the crew unable to maintain control. Cockpit recordings indicated that the captain may have manually moved the fuel switches to the cut-off position, suggesting a possible fuel switch error or pilot action.

Investigations are ongoing, with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India leading the investigation, assisted by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the US National Transportation Safety Board. Newer investigative theories focus on the aircraft’s Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. FADEC, which controls engine functions including fuel flow, might have malfunctioned or reacted to faulty sensor data, potentially causing an automatic shutdown of the engines.

Both organizations, DGCA and Air India, have initiated further technical inspections and maintenance reviews of Boeing 787 fuel systems and engine controls to prevent recurrence. The tragedy was significantly contributed to by the fuel supply being cut off to both engines, either by manual action or an automatic electronic system failure, resulting in loss of thrust and the inability of the aircraft to sustain flight immediately after takeoff.

In the aftermath of the crash, the crew was seen at the boarding gate via CCTV, and had undergone a breath analyzer test and were issued a fit to fly. The aircraft was released for flight after rectification of a "STAB POS XDCR" tech log entry at 06:40. The aircraft began taxiing to Runway 23 at 07:56:08, and was transferred from Ground to Tower Control at 08:02:03.

The investigation continues to explore whether an FADEC system malfunction or sensor failure contributed to or caused the fuel cut-off, complicating attributions of blame. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining vigilance and adherence to safety protocols in aviation.

[1] AAIB Investigation Update: Air India Flight 171 (https://www.aaib.gov.uk/investigation/investigations/2025/ai171/) [2] DGCA Preliminary Report: Air India Flight 171 (https://dgca.gov.in/preliminary-report-air-india-flight-171/) [3] US NTSB Assistance in Air India Flight 171 Investigation (https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2025-news-item-air-india-flight-171-investigation.aspx) [4] UK AAIB Assistance in Air India Flight 171 Investigation (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-assistance-in-air-india-flight-171-investigation)

The recent airline news about Air India Flight 171 has raised questions within the aviation industry about the reliability of the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system, a critical part of modern aircraft's engine management.
Financial repercussions for both the transportation sector and Air India specifically are expected as investigations into the crash of Air India Flight 171 continue, with potential safety improvements in the airline's fuel system and engine controls.
The general-news world remains attentive to events surrounding the accident involving Air India Flight 171, as investigations progress and potentially uncover more information about possible electronic system failures and their impact on airline safety.