Preliminary Report Confirms Fuel Cutoff Caused Air India Boeing 787 Crash Killing 260

The preliminary investigation into the June 12, 2025, crash of Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, revealed that both engines' fuel control switches were intentionally moved from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' shortly after liftoff, causing engine failure and the subsequent crash that killed 260 people. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot questioning the other about cutting off the fuel, with the latter denying responsibility, but the report does not assign blame or conclude the cause. After the switches were reset, the engines began to relight, but the plane lost altitude and crashed within 32 seconds of takeoff near Ahmedabad. Aviation experts note that the Boeing 787's fuel cutoff switches have safety locks to prevent accidental activation, making inadvertent switching unlikely. The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, working with international experts, released this 15-page report but emphasized it is preliminary, with a final report expected after more analysis. The finding has led Air India to reduce its international widebody services by 15 percent through mid-July as the probe continues.