India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has revealed that the fuel control switches for both engines of an Air India flight were moved to the “cutoff” position shortly before the plane crashed. This caused a loss of engine thrust soon after takeoff.
Details of the crash and fuel switch movement
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was flying from Ahmedabad to London when it crashed on 12 June, killing 260 people, including 19 on the ground. The plane carried 230 passengers mostly Indian nationals, along with British, Portuguese and Canadian citizens and 12 crew members. One passenger survived.
The AAIB’s report says the flight lasted about 30 seconds after takeoff before the crash. Once the aircraft reached its highest recorded speed, the fuel cutoff switches for engines one and two changed from “run” to “cutoff” within one second. The report does not explain how or why this happened.
The switches were then moved back to “run,” and the engines appeared to regain power. However, the plane had already lost altitude and could not recover. One pilot made a mayday call before the crash.
The cockpit voice recording captured confusion between the pilots in the final moments. One asked the other why the fuel had been cut off, and the other replied that he had not touched the switch.
Ongoing investigation and safety measures
The investigation report did not assign blame or recommend immediate action for Boeing or the engine maker GE. It found no technical faults with the engines or aircraft systems. It also confirmed that Air India followed all mandatory airworthiness directives and service bulletins.
Earlier, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory about the possible disengagement of the fuel control switch locking mechanism on Boeing 787 aircraft. As this advisory was not mandatory, Air India did not carry out the suggested inspections.
Air India says it is fully cooperating with the investigation and working closely with regulators. The airline has also begun deeper inspections of its 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Authorities continue to gather evidence. The preliminary report meets international aviation rules, which require a report within 30 days of an accident.
