The crash of Air India flight AI171 has raised tough questions. On June 12, just 39 seconds after takeoff, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (VT-ANB) crashed, killing 270 people. Now, the preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has revealed something shocking: both fuel switches were found in the ‘Cutoff’ position. That means both engines were starved of fuel.
But here’s the twist—neither pilot touched the switches.
What Are Fuel Switches?
Fuel switches control the flow of fuel to the engines. Normally, they are only touched on the ground—once to start the engines before takeoff, and once again after landing to shut them down.
To avoid mistakes, these switches are locked behind guards. You can’t just flip them by accident. You have to lift and move them on purpose. And you almost never touch them in flight, unless one engine fails.
So why were both switches turned off mid-air?
What the AAIB Found
The AAIB report shows that seconds after takeoff, the aircraft reached 180 knots. At that point, both fuel switches moved to ‘Cutoff’ within a second of each other. Engine speeds dropped fast. The backup power unit, called the RAT (Ram Air Turbine), kicked in. Ten seconds later, the pilots tried to restart the engines—but it was too late.
The plane crashed into a hostel building just 2 km from the runway.
Did a Pilot Flip the Switches?
According to the cockpit voice recording, one pilot asked the other, “Why did you cut off the fuel?” The reply: “I did not do so.”
Experts say it’s nearly impossible to flip both switches by mistake. The cockpit layout also makes this unlikely—during takeoff, pilots focus on the gear and flaps, not the fuel switches.
So what caused this?
Was It a Technical Glitch?
The AAIB pointed to a 2018 FAA bulletin about faulty switch locks. It warned that the locking mechanism could disengage in some Boeing planes. Air India did not follow up on this bulletin, as it wasn’t mandatory.
The aircraft had its throttle control module changed twice, in 2019 and 2023. But no issues with the fuel switch were reported.
Could this have been a malfunction? Maybe.
What Happens Next?
A special team is digging deeper. They’re analyzing audio recordings to figure out who said what and when. They will also inspect the fuel switch system software to check for hidden faults.
More experts—pilots, engineers, psychologists—have joined the investigation.
But one thing is clear. Something went fatally wrong on AI171, and India—and the world—deserve to know why.
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