Air India Crash Investigation Uncovers Fuel Supply Issue

An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a building shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, killing 260 people. The preliminary investigation report by India's Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the pilots moved the fuel cut-off switches to the 'cut-off' position seconds after takeoff, depriving the engines of fuel. The report sparked speculation about the pilots' actions, with some suggesting deliberate and intentional action. However, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association warned against drawing conclusions based on incomplete information. Aviation experts criticized the report for lacking key details, such as a transcript from the cockpit voice recorder, and being "very selective" in the information provided. The final report is expected to be published within a year, but it may take longer.

India's aviation regulator has ordered the country's airlines to inspect fuel control switches in Boeing aeroplanes following a fatal Air India crash that killed 260 people in June. The order comes after a preliminary report found that the fuel supply to the engines was cut off moments after take-off. The checks, to be carried out by July 21, are in line with a 2018 US Federal Aviation Administration advisory that urged, but did not mandate, inspections of the fuel cut-off switches. The US regulator has since stated that the switches are safe, and Boeing has also defended their safety.

A month after the fatal Air India crash on June 12, 2025, that killed 260 individuals, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India (AAIB) released a finding that the jet's fuel-control switches were turned off seconds after takeoff, causing the plane to lose thrust. The report included a snippet of cockpit dialogue where one pilot questioned why the other had cut off the fuel, and the latter denied doing so. The incident has led to blame and speculation, with some pointing to human error or pilot sabotage, prompting anger from Indian commercial pilots' groups. Experts caution that it's too soon to conclude the cause, with possibilities including inadvertent crew action, electronic fault, or equipment failure, and that the preliminary document is meant to provide a factual account rather than assign responsibility.

The chief executive of Air India, Campbell Wilson, has stated in an internal memo that a preliminary report into the crash of one of its Boeing aircraft on June 12 found no mechanical or maintenance faults on board. The plane, which was headed to London, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport, killing 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground. The report found that fuel to the engines appeared to have cut off shortly after take-off, with cockpit switches controlling fuel moving to a "CUTOFF" position, leading to confusion among the pilots. Wilson emphasized that the investigation was ongoing and that it was unwise to jump to conclusions. The pilots' union has rejected the presumption of pilot error and called for a fair investigation.