 "‘I didn't cut off fuel’: Inside the cockpit during final 98 seconds of doomed Air India flight")
A month after the deadly Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the preliminary report is finally here.
According to the report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), both of the aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches moved from the ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’ position at almost the same time. This led to a sudden stop in fuel supply to the engines.
Once the engines lost their core and fan speeds (N1 and N2), the plane started to lose height rapidly.
Recordings from the cockpit voice recorder also indicated confusion between the pilots. One asked, “Why did you cutoff?” while the other denied doing so.
So, what exactly unfolded in the final moments? To answer this, we need to look at the entire timeline from takeoff to the crash.
Let’s take a look:
Air India plane crash: Full sequence of events on June 12
Here is the full timeline of events on June 12, as per the preliminary report by investigators:
13:37:37 IST: The aircraft began rolling on the runway.
13:38:39 IST: The aircraft lifted off. “The aircraft air/ground sensors transitioned to air mode, consistent with liftoff,” the report stated.
13:38:42 IST: The aircraft hit its maximum airspeed of 180 knots IAS.
At this point, the fuel cutoff switches for both engines moved from RUN to CUTOFF within a second. Notably, these switches control the flow of fuel to the engines.
Cockpit voice recording:
Pilot 1: “Why did you cut off?”
Pilot 2: “I did not do so.”
The aircraft began losing height before it could clear the airport’s boundary wall.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts13:38:47 IST: Both engines dropped below minimum idle speed. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) hydraulic pump was activated to provide hydraulic power.
13:38:52 IST: The fuel cutoff switch for Engine 1 moved back from CUTOFF to RUN.
13:38:54 IST: The APU inlet door started opening, indicating that the APU autostart sequence had kicked in.
13:38:56 IST: Engine 2’s fuel cutoff switch also moved from CUTOFF to RUN.
Engine 1’s core speed began to recover, while Engine 2 showed signs of relighting. However, Engine 2 struggled to stabilise and kept introducing fuel in an attempt to recover its core speed.
13:39:05 IST: The pilot sent out a “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” distress call.
13:39:11 IST: All data recording stopped.
13:44:44 IST: Fire engines at the airport were deployed and soon joined by local fire and rescue teams.
‘I didn’t cut off fuel’
Switching the fuel cutoff to ‘cut-off’ is normally done only after the plane has landed.
The cockpit voice recorder picked up one pilot asking the other why he “did the cut-off”, with the response being a denial.
The recording does not clearly show who said what. At the time, the co-pilot was in control of the aircraft, while the captain was monitoring.
Investigators said that the lever-lock fuel switches are made to avoid accidental use. They have to be lifted to unlock before they can be moved.
A Canada-based air accident investigator told BBC, “It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with a single movement of one hand, and this makes accidental deployment unlikely.”
The Air India crash probe report
The Air India flight that crashed on June 12 in Ahmedabad was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
The accident killed at least 260 people, including 19 people on the ground. Just one passenger survived, making it one of the worst air disasters in India’s history.
The flight had 230 passengers on board, 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian, along with 12 crew members.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in its preliminary report, raised fresh concerns about the position of the engine fuel cutoff switches. However, the report did not indicate any direct fault on the part of Boeing or the engine manufacturer, GE.
At the crash site, both fuel cutoff switches were found in the ‘run’ position. The report also indicated that both engines had begun to relight before the aircraft crashed at low altitude.
Air India, in a post on X on Saturday, said it is working with regulators and all other stakeholders, and will continue to support the ongoing investigation.
“We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025,” the airline said.
The airline further said, “We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.”
Boeing also released a statement saying it will continue to assist with the investigation.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad. I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
Boeing will defer to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to provide information about Air India Flight 171, in adherence with the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization protocol.”
With inputs from agencies
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