🛫 Air India Flight AI171: A Tragedy in the Skies—Insights from the Preliminary Report
(This article is based on the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The findings are not final and are subject to change as the investigation continues.)
A Routine Flight That Ended in Devastation
On a calm summer afternoon—June 12, 2025—Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, lined up for departure on Runway 23 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The plane was bound for London Gatwick, carrying passengers, cabin crew, and flight crew.
Tragedy struck just moments after takeoff. The airplane lost power and crashed into a residential complex near BJ Medical College. The accident resulted in a total loss of life on board and fatalities on the ground.
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from international aviation bodies, released a preliminary report outlining the likely technical sequence — but no final conclusions. This article clearly explains those findings to the general public, aviation community, and decision-makers.
🔍 A Catastrophic Chain of Events
The aircraft took off normally. However, seconds after reaching the initial climb, both engines lost thrust simultaneously. According to data from the flight recorders, the fuel control switches for both engines were changed from RUN to CUTOFF, effectively shutting them off.
The cockpit voice recorder captured a brief but haunting exchange:
👨✈️ “Why did you cut off?”
👨✈️ “I didn’t.”
This confirmed that the shutdown was unintentional, raising concerns about a technical failure or the accidental activation of one of the aircraft's most critical systems.
What Are Fuel Control Switches?
These switches are located in the cockpit and control the fuel flow to each engine:
RUN = Fuel flows into the engine.
CUTOFF = Fuel is turned off; engine shuts down.
Fuel control switches on commercial aircraft, such as the Boeing 787, include a locking feature designed to prevent accidental movement, particularly during flight.
⚠️ A Warning Ignored?
In December 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB NM-18-33). It warned that some Boeing aircraft may have had fuel control switch locks installed incorrectly, particularly those with part number 4TL837-3D, which was also used in the AI171 aircraft.
However, the FAA's bulletin was advisory rather than mandatory. As a result, Air India did not conduct the recommended inspection, which is now the primary focus of the investigation.
Technical Systems and What They Revealed
📦 EAFR – Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder
The Boeing 787 was equipped with two black boxes:
FWD EAFR (Forward Recorder): Located in the front, with its own battery (RIPS). It survived with critical cockpit audio and flight data.
AFT EAFR (Rear Recorder): Located in the tail, severely damaged, and unrecoverable.
🔊 ULB – Underwater Locator Beacon
Despite the fact that the crash occurred on land, the EAFR remained attached, confirming proper installation and operational readiness.
🧭 A-SMGCS – Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System
The airport-based tracking system assisted investigators in reconstructing the aircraft's taxi route, runway alignment, and takeoff roll, confirming normal ground operations prior to takeoff.
💨 RAT – Ram Air Turbine
The deployment of this small wind-powered device indicated a complete loss of onboard electrical power following engine shutdown, a rare but serious emergency situation.
🔥 EGT – Exhaust Gas Temperature
Flight data showed that as the crew attempted to relight the engines, EGT levels increased, indicating that combustion resumed, but insufficient thrust was restored to recover flight.
👨✈️ The Crew and Flight Operations
The co-pilot served as the PF (pilot flying), handling flight controls.
The captain was in charge of pilot monitoring (PM), which included radio and system support.
Both were medically fit, qualified, and well rested. There was no indication of impairment or negligence.
🛬 Reversers and Takeoff Systems
Thrust reversers, which are only used after landing, were found stowed as expected.
Due to the sudden onset of the emergency, TO/GA (Takeoff/Go-Around) switches, which provide maximum thrust when required, were discovered damaged and likely non-functional.
🧾 Maintenance Entry Before the Crash
Earlier that day, during a previous flight, the aircraft logged a PDR (Pilot Defect Report) citing an issue: "STAB POS XDCR" — referring to a Stabilizer Position Transducer (a sensor that measures the angle of the aircraft's tail).
The fault was repaired by an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) using standard procedures from the Fault Isolation Manual (FIM), and the aircraft was cleared for its next flight, AI 171.
🧠 What This Report Tells Us (and What It Doesn’t)
The report paints a picture of:
Sudden dual engine shutdown.
Uncommanded fuel switch movement.
A known component risk that was not inspected because it is not mandatory.
However, it does not yet assign blame or determine whether the cause was a mechanical failure, maintenance error, or design flaw. The final report, which is still being prepared, will include a conclusive statement.
🕯️ A Tragedy Beyond Numbers
This was not simply a technical failure. It was a loss of life for passengers, crew, and civilians. Children, families, and students. People who had not expected their journey to end in tragedy. Their loss must prompt action.
🚨 A Call for Aviation Reform
Should advisory safety bulletins be treated with the same urgency as mandates?
Can we redesign flight systems to eliminate the possibility of a single, high-risk failure?
Are the fuel control switch locks too fragile for the stakes they hold?
The investigation is ongoing, but these questions must be addressed globally.
This article is based on the preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in India. The findings are subject to change and should not be used to establish liability or conclusive causes.
✈️ “We Remember. We learn. We Fly Safer.”
May the lives lost during this tragic event not be in vain. Let this be a time for reflection and reform—so that future flights are safer, not just because of better aircraft, but also because we learn from our mistakes.
Kushagra Kumar Mungutwar
Digital Marketing Specialist
Asiatic In Corp
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