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air india flight 171

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On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, marking the first-ever fatal accident involving this aircraft model. Of the 230 passengers, 229 were killed, in addition to 19 people on the ground, resulting in 241 total fatalities. The crash took place when the aircraft lost altitude almost immediately after liftoff and impacted a medical college complex approximately 1,500 meters beyond the runway[1][2].

The preliminary investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) determined that both engines lost thrust seconds after takeoff because the fuel cutoff switches were activated independently about one second apart, just three seconds after the wheels left the ground. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking why the fuel was cut off, to which the other replied that he did not initiate it. Although the crew restored the switches after about ten seconds, it was too late for a full engine recovery. A MAYDAY distress call was made shortly before the crash[1][4][5].

The fuel cutoff switches are designed with locking mechanisms to prevent unintentional activation, requiring a deliberate effort to unlock and move each switch. Investigators noted that the cockpit controls for fuel cutoff are located away from standard flight controls and cannot be inadvertently triggered during normal operations. There was no initial evidence of mechanical failure, and the investigation ruled out fuel contamination, overweight conditions, pilot fatigue, or hazardous cargo. No bird strikes were detected, and the aircraft’s systems appeared to be functioning before the engine shutdowns[1][4][5].

The crash resulted in substantial operational disruptions for Air India, with affected passengers being rebooked, refunded, or given alternative arrangements. Air India has publicly expressed condolences and is assisting families of victims in coordination with the Government of Gujarat and Tata Group volunteers[2].

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has raised concerns regarding the investigation process, arguing that pilot representatives were excluded and that the preliminary report relied heavily on selectively paraphrased voice recordings that may imply blame before a full, transparent investigation is complete. The FIP cautioned against premature conclusions about pilot responsibility, emphasizing the need for a thorough, data-driven analysis. As of now, the AAIB has not issued safety directives for the Boeing 787-8 or its GE GEnx-1B engines and emphasized that wreckage analysis and system component inspections are still underway. Both Air India and Boeing remain fully cooperative with the ongoing investigation[3].

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