Ahmedabad Air India plane crash probe report reveals both engines shut down within seconds of take-off
The preliminary investigation report has arrived a month after the Ahmedabad plane crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) made the 15-page report public on July 12. According to the preliminary investigation, the accident occurred due to both the engines of the plane shutting down.
The report into the crash of the Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 - in which at least 270 people were killed, including 241 of the 242 on board - said the fuel cutoff switches, which control the flow of fuel to the engines, transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' position one after another, within a second of each other.
During this, the cockpit recording revealed that one pilot had asked the other, did you turn off the switch? The other replied, no.
Air India flight AI 171 took off on June 12 at 1.38 pm and the accident happened at 1.40 pm. At that time the plane was at an altitude of 200 feet. The pilots could not save the plane from crash despite trying their best.
According to the report, the fuel switches of both the engines were off in the plane, after which the pilots turned it on and tried to restart both the engines. But the plane was at a very low altitude, so the engines did not get time to regain power and the plane crashed. However, it has not been revealed how the fuel switches were turned off.
According to the 15-page report, the entire flight from takeoff to the accident lasted only about 30 seconds. Till now, no warning or action has been recommended for any operator regarding the Boeing 787-8 aircraft and GE GEnx-1B engine in the report. Also, the report does not mention any reasons like weather, bird-hit and sabotage.
The pilots were also medically fit and rested and had adequate experience flying that type of aircraft.
Air India says it is committed to help the families of the victims
After the report was released, Air India said that it continues to ‘fully cooperate’ with the agency as it carries out its probe.
In a post on X, Air India in the early hours of Saturday said it was ‘committed’ to help the families of the victims.
“Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time,” it said.
Air India acknowledged the “receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025,” it said.
Prakash Kumar Pandey