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Air India Plane Crash Prelimiary Report: A month after fatal crash of Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 of the 242 people on board and several others on ground, bringing the total death toll to nearly 270, a preliminary investigation has revealed that both engines shut down seconds after liftoff due to a sudden loss of fuel supply.
The report, released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on Saturday, points to apparent confusion in the cockpit in the moments before the June 12 crash. A conversation captured on the cockpit voice recorder indicates one pilot asked the other why the engines had been shut down, to which the reply came: “I did not do so.”
The London-bound aircraft lost thrust almost immediately after take-off and crashed near the airport perimeter wall. Just one passenger survived. The cause of the fuel cutoff remains under investigation, though the report confirms that relight attempts were made shortly before impact. A full probe is ongoing.
(Image: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau)
Air India B787 crash: 11 key takeaways from AAIB’s preliminary report
Take-off was normal until fuel to both engines was suddenly cut off: The aircraft taxied from its parking bay at 7:56 am UTC and received take-off clearance at 8:07 am. It began rolling down the runway a few seconds later and lifted off by 8:08:39 am. The plane reached a top speed of 180 knots shortly after becoming airborne. Moments later, the fuel switches for both engines moved from the ‘RUN’ to the ‘CUTOFF’ position within one second of each other which resulted in fuel supply cut off and caused both engines to lose power.
Thrust Lever Quadrant & Fuel Control Switch. (Image: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau)
Cockpit voice reveals confusion over fuel switch cut-off: In the cockpit voice recorder, one pilot was captured asking the other why the fuel was cut off. The other pilot responded saying he had not done it, indicating possible confusion or miscommunication. One pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” and the other replied, “I did not do so."
The report mentions that the fuel switches were quickly turned back to the ‘RUN’ position. Engine temperature data showed signs of attempted restart, but it was too late to recover.
Backup turbine shows early power failure: CCTV footage from the airport showed the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed during the initial climb. This device kicks in only when there’s a major power failure, confirming the engines lost power right after take-off.
Co-pilot was flying the aircraft: According to report, Co-pilot Clive Kunder was handling the controls, while Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was monitoring. Both were well-rested, passed their breathalyser tests.
No issues with fuel, weight or cargo: The aircraft had 54,200 kg of fuel and its take-off weight was within the safe limit. There were no dangerous goods on board. Weather conditions were also not a factor.
Aircraft hit hostel building: The plane hit the BJ Medical College hostel just under a nautical mile from the runway. It did not send out a distress signal via the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). The wreckage was spread across a large area.
Thrust levers were working, but switches flipped: Despite heavy fire damage, data shows the thrust levers were still in take-off mode at the time of impact. But the fuel switches somehow flipped, cutting power. Both were later found back in the ‘RUN’ position, raising questions about how they moved mid-air.
Boeing had warned about this in 2018: In 2018, the US aviation regulator (FAA) warned airlines about a potential problem with the fuel switch locking mechanism. Air India didn’t inspect its planes for this, saying the warning was not mandatory.
Same switch used in other Boeing jets: The fuel switch model (4TL837-3D) is common across multiple Boeing aircraft, including this 787. Air India had replaced the throttle module in 2019 and 2023, but no issues were reported with the fuel switch specifically.
Mid-air breakup before crash: The aircraft hit trees and buildings as it lost height, breaking into parts before slamming into Building A. The engines and major parts of the wings and tail were found scattered hundreds of feet apart, showing how the plane disintegrated in its final moments.
Plane was well-maintained: Maintenance records show the aircraft had no major overdue work. The next major check was due in December 2025. There were a few minor issues (like cockpit camera and printer), but none linked to safety or fuel control.
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