Air India Crash: Fuel Switches Cited in Report

A preliminary report into the crash of Air India Flight 171 found that both engine fuel control switches were moved from 'run' to 'cutoff' just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, causing both engines to lose power. The switches were briefly returned to 'run', but recovery was not possible before the aircraft crashed into a residential area, killing at least 260 people, including nearly all on board and several on the ground. Cockpit recordings captured one pilot asking the other why the fuel was cut off, with the other denying responsibility. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure or external causes, and the cause of the switch movement remains unexplained. The report, issued by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, does not assign blame or recommend safety actions for Boeing or GE. This disaster is the deadliest aviation incident in over a decade and marks a major crisis for Air India and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.