Air India Flight Crash Report: What Caused the AI171 Dreamliner Disaster?
Air India Flight Crash Report, On June 12, 2025, a routine overnight hop from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick became the deadliest aviation accident in a decade. Air India Flight AI171, a nearly new Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner (registration VT‑ANB), lost power in both engines seconds after take‑off, plummeting into a medical-college dormitory and claiming 260 lives.
This Air India Flight Crash Report has sent shockwaves through airline boardrooms and government offices alike, prompting urgent investigations and uncomfortable questions: What went so wrong, so fast—and could it have been avoided years ago?
Crash Overview: What Happened on June 12, 2025?
Just after 00:17 IST, both Rolls‑Royce Trent 1000 engines shut down—one second apart. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) revealed stunned confusion:
One pilot asked, “Why did you cut the fuel?”
The other replied, “I didn’t touch it.”
Seconds later, the Dreamliner, fully loaded with fuel, began a powerless glide. Despite a mayday call and frantic inputs, the plane crashed into a student dormitory just 90 seconds after takeoff.
The Air India Flight Crash Report identifies this as a catastrophic dual engine flameout, something rarely seen in modern aviation—especially during initial climb-out.
The Mystery of the Fuel Control Switches
Investigators homed in on two seemingly simple switches on the 787’s center pedestal—the fuel control switches. These guarded toggles, located behind spring-loaded latches, stop fuel flow when moved to CUTOFF.
Shocking discovery: Both toggles were in the CUTOFF detent at impact.
The pilots insist: “We didn’t touch them.”
Yet the Air India Flight Report confirms: physical evidence proves the switches were moved, leaving investigators to determine how and why.
FAA’s 2018 Advisory: A Missed Opportunity
Back in 2018, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB NM‑18‑33). It warned about fuel switch locks on Boeing aircraft being installed without proper engagement.
But here’s the catch:
The advisory was non-binding—not mandatory.
Airlines like Air India had discretion. And according to the Air India Flight Crash Report, they didn’t act.
Understanding Fuel Switch Locks: A Simple Safety Net
Imagine the fuel switch lock like a deadbolt on your door.
When it’s engaged, even a bump won’t move it.
When it’s off?
A vibration, a clipboard, or even a co-pilot’s elbow could accidentally trigger the switch.
In the rattling cockpit, near rotation speed (Vr), a minor contact could have had major consequences.
That’s exactly what investigators are now considering in the Air India Flight Crash Report.
Air India’s Defense: “It Was Only an Advisory”
In testimony to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Air India’s maintenance team admitted they never checked the locking feature on the fuel switches.
Why?
The FAA bulletin was “informational only.”
Critics argue this reveals a reactive safety culture. As one seasoned engineer remarked:
“Airmanship isn’t a courtroom—it’s a graveyard if you split hairs.”
Maintenance History of the Aircraft: A Clean Record with a Fatal Flaw
VT‑ANB, the aircraft involved, had a flawless logbook.
It had recently completed a 48-hour C-check in January 2025.
It had new throttle modules in 2019 and 2023.
Yet, no inspection was done on the fuel switch locking mechanism.
Per the Air India Flight Crash Report, everything was technically legal, yet the fatal flaw remained untouched.
Cockpit Chaos: The Human Factor
The CVR captures 23 seconds of sheer panic.
As the left engine failed, the co-pilot pushed the throttles—but nothing responded.
An “ENGINE FAIL” alarm screamed.
Moments later, the right engine failed too.
A pilot shouted: “Both gone?!”
The Air India Flight Report uses this moment to illustrate just how unthinkable a dual engine flameout is—especially in a new aircraft at climb-out.
Accident Scenarios: What Might Have Happened?
The AAIB is considering three possible causes:
- Inadvertent movement: A stray elbow or object nudged the switches.
- Mechanical slippage: The detent mechanism failed due to wear or vibration.
- Software glitch: A microprocessor falsely signaled a fuel cutoff.
Each of these is chilling on its own—but in tandem, they could be the perfect storm, according to the Air India Flight Crash Report.
Industry Fallout: Boeing and Global Aviation on Edge
Boeing, still recovering from the 737 MAX disasters, is again under scrutiny.
Why wasn’t a critical cockpit switch protected better?
Global regulators now ask:
When does an advisory become an obligation?
The Air India Flight Crash Report has become the centerpiece in a global conversation about the limits of manufacturer responsibility, regulatory oversight, and the value of mandatory compliance.
Passenger Trust After the Tragedy
Understandably, flyers are asking:
“If a single switch can bring down a $250 million jet, is flying still safe?”
Statistically, yes.
But public confidence is fragile.
The Air India Flight Report emphasizes the need for:
- Transparent investigations
- Prompt safety upgrades
- Clear communication with passengers
What Happens Next? The Road Ahead
The AAIB’s preliminary report is just the beginning.
Next steps include:
- Lab testing the switches
- Flight data simulation
- Human factors analysis using 787 simulators
While final conclusions may not emerge until late 2026, the Air India Flight Crash Report will likely yield interim safety recommendations in the coming months.
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Conclusion
Aviation safety is built on the bones of tragedy.
This crash underscores a brutal truth:
A $2 latch—a part smaller than a golf tee—can mean the difference between life and death.
The Air India Flight Crash Report doesn’t just tell the story of a doomed aircraft.
It reminds us all:
When safety whispers, listen before it screams.
