India’s aviation industry is grappling with one of its most shocking tragedies in decades: the crash of Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that plunged just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad, bound for London. While early speculation pointed to technical malfunction, the newly released preliminary investigation crash report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) suggests a far more complex—and potentially disturbing—chain of events.
This 15-page document, compiled with assistance from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing, is raising serious concerns about pilot actions, cockpit confusion, and possible system design vulnerabilities.
🔍 Inside the Crash Report: A Chilling Sequence of Events
According to the AAIB, both fuel control switches on the aircraft—essentially responsible for regulating fuel flow to the engines—were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” just seconds after takeoff. This action effectively shut off fuel supply to both engines, leading to total thrust loss during the aircraft’s critical climb phase.
Just 10–14 seconds later, the switches were toggled back to “RUN,” but by then, the aircraft had lost altitude and crashed into a college building, killing all 251 people onboard and nine on the ground.
Most strikingly, cockpit voice recordings reveal a brief but haunting exchange between the two pilots. One was heard asking, “Why did you cut off?” The other responded, “I did not do so.”
🛑 Experts Question Possibility of Accident
Several aviation experts have voiced doubts over whether such a catastrophic switch-off could happen accidentally—especially on a modern aircraft like the Boeing 787, which includes protective guards and two-step mechanisms for critical controls.
Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a senior aviation analyst, raised the possibility of pilot suicide or intentional sabotage, though he emphasized that further evidence is needed before drawing conclusions. He noted that for both fuel switches to be turned off within seconds is “mechanically improbable without deliberate action.”
Other experts, however, are urging caution. They point out that cockpit interactions, stress, or even a technical anomaly—though not identified yet—could be contributing factors.
🧑✈️ No Mechanical Faults Found So Far
The crash report clarifies that no bird strike, fuel contamination, or weather-related factors contributed to the crash. The engine data, black box, and FDR (Flight Data Recorder) are still being analyzed, but initial inspections have not revealed any mechanical failure or engine defect.
Furthermore, while a stabilizer trim fault was logged on the aircraft’s previous flight, investigators have yet to establish any direct link to the crash.
📣 Government Urges Caution, Promises Full Transparency
Reacting to widespread speculation, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the findings are preliminary, and the public should not jump to conclusions. He assured that a final, detailed investigation report will follow and include additional data, simulations, and interviews.
“The AAIB is following international best practices in cooperation with Boeing and other agencies. The final word on what really happened is yet to come,” the minister said in a press briefing.
⚠️ Unanswered Questions Remain
The preliminary crash report has left more questions than answers:
- Why did both fuel switches shut off at the same time?
- Was there a human factor or deliberate action involved?
- Could a design flaw in the cockpit layout have caused accidental activation?
- Were pilots trained adequately to respond to such a scenario?
- What safety modifications were made after the 2018 FAA advisory on switch guards?
So far, the AAIB has made no safety recommendations or blame assignments, pending deeper technical analysis.
✈️ What Happens Next?
Investigators are currently reconstructing the flight using data from the black box, air traffic communications, and witness statements. A final report is expected within 6–12 months, potentially leading to changes in aircraft design, pilot training protocols, or regulatory frameworks.
Until then, the crash of AI-171 serves as a stark reminder of how, in aviation, even seconds of confusion or error can turn into tragedy—and how transparency, data, and patience are key to preventing such disasters in the future.
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