Plane Fire Upon Landing: Air India Hong Kong to Delhi Flight Experiences Inflight Flare-Up, All Passengers Secure
In a tragic turn of events, Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (AI-171) flight from Ahmedabad to London was involved in a fatal accident on June 12, 2025, resulting in the loss of 275 lives, with one survivor. The preliminary investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has indicated that the fuel control switches were moved to the cutoff position for both engines within a second of each other shortly after takeoff, leading to an immediate loss of thrust.
The technical issue in question pertains to the unexpected movement of the fuel control switches to the cutoff position. The AAIB report noted this transition occurred rapidly, but the cause behind the switches moving to the cutoff position remains undisclosed at this stage. The fuel control switches are crucial, as they regulate the flow of fuel into the aircraft engines, and their unexpected activation could lead to engine shutdown, resulting in loss of thrust.
The investigation is ongoing, and specific details about the cause of the switches moving to the cutoff position have not been publicly disclosed. Following the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated inspections of the fuel control switch locking mechanisms on certain Boeing aircraft models, including the Boeing 787 and 737, to ensure that such switches could not be moved accidentally. Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express conducted these inspections by the July 21 deadline and reported no issues with the locking mechanisms on their Boeing fleets.
Multiple press reports have focused on the switch positions and a recorded conversation between Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. However, the claim that Captain Sabharwal deliberately switched off the fuel supply lacks definitive proof and has been heavily condemned by the Indian government and the aviation community.
The incident marked the third near-miss for Air India in 48 hours, with a Delhi-Kolkata flight aborting its take-off at the last possible minute due to a technical issue, a Kochi-Mumbai flight veering off the runway while landing, and Air India flight AI-315, from Hong Kong to Delhi, experiencing a fire in its auxiliary power unit shortly after landing. The fuel supply switches on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner are designed to be immobile unless specifically moved by a pilot, to prevent accidental movement.
The final report, which will explain the exact cause of the crash, is pending. In the meantime, the AAIB has criticized international media for "unverified" and "irresponsible" reporting, with the United States' National Transportation Safety Board also voicing similar concerns. The DGCA has assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of passengers.
- The fuel control switches, which regulate the flow of fuel into the aircraft engines, have been identified as crucial in the ongoing investigation of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (AI-171) accident.
- Although the cause behind the unexpected movement of the fuel control switches to the cutoff position remains undisclosed, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated inspections of the fuel control switch locking mechanisms on certain Boeing aircraft models.
- Despite various media reports suggesting potential human error or deliberate switch-off of the fuel supply, the Indian government and the aviation community have heavily condemned such claims, awaiting the final report to understand the exact cause of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (AI-171) crash.
