Why did AI 171 crash just 30 seconds after takeoff? Understanding the technical breakdown
New Delhi/Ahmedabad : The preliminary investigation report into the tragic Air India crash that occurred on June 12 has revealed startling insights pointing to both technical failures and possible human error. The Air India flight AI 171, bound for London, crashed just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 270 passengers and crew on board. Both Air India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation have assured full cooperation in the investigation and announced a review of aviation safety protocols.
How did the crash happen?
According to the report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), both fuel control switches on the aircraft engines moved from the “RUN” to the “CUTOFF” position within a second of each other, shortly after the plane took off. This cut off fuel supply to the engines, causing a rapid loss of thrust and halting the plane’s climb.
The critical malfunction began just 3 seconds after takeoff, causing confusion and panic in the cockpit. Data from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) revealed a chilling exchange between the pilots:
“Why did you shut the fuel off?”
“I didn’t do it,” came the reply.
The report does not identify whether this exchange was between the captain or the first officer. Seconds later, the switches were moved back to the “RUN” position, but it was too late. The aircraft crashed into the premises of a nearby medical hostel.
What are fuel switches and how do they work?
Fuel Control Switches manage the flow of fuel to the aircraft engines.
They are primarily used:
To start or shut down engines on the ground.
During emergencies in-flight for engine shutdown or restart.
Key Features:
Located beneath the thrust levers.
Designed with a spring-loaded mechanism to prevent accidental movement.
Require the pilot to lift and then move the switch deliberately between RUN and CUTOFF.
Expert Opinions
Aviation expert John Nance told Reuters:
“No trained pilot would shut off the fuel switches during the climb phase of flight unless under extreme circumstances.”
What was discovered post-crash?
Both fuel switches were found in the RUN position at the crash site.
This suggests that pilots tried to restart the engines, but altitude and time constraints made recovery impossible.
The engine control system was unable to successfully complete the auto re-ignition and thrust recovery process.
What kind of aircraft was involved?
Aircraft: Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Engines: Two GE engines
Age: Approximately 10 years old
What will the further investigation focus on?
Pilot training and crew experience
Potential technical flaws in engine or control systems
Presence of software bugs or hardware malfunction
Whether fuel switches were moved manually or automatically
The preliminary findings in the AI 171 crash have raised serious concerns in the aviation industry. The central question remains:
How could such sensitive switches have been activated at such a critical moment? Was it pilot error, a technical glitch, or both?
The nation mourns the lives lost in this disaster. All eyes are now on the AAIB’s final report, expected in the coming weeks, to reveal the definitive cause and prevent such tragedies in the future.
