Air India Boeing 787 Crash: AAIB Issues Preliminary Findings

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI 171—a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner—departed Ahmedabad for London Gatwick. Seconds after lifting off from Runway 23, both engines lost power, and the aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel, killing 260 people, including 241 on board.

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AAIB Preliminary Report: 10 Key Findings

1. Both engines’ fuel cutoff switches flipped from RUN to CUTOFF within one second of each other, starving the engines of fuel during takeoff.
2. Cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking “Why did you cut off?” and the other replying “I did not do it,” indicating confusion over the shutdown order.
3. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically seconds after lift-off, confirming total engine failure and loss of primary power.
4. Engine 1 partially recovered after pilots moved its switch back to RUN, but Engine 2 failed to regain core speed despite multiple fuel injections.
5. The aircraft climbed to 180 knots IAS at 13:38 IST, but four seconds later both engines began decelerating, leading to a “Mayday” call at 13:39 IST and crash impact moments after.
6. No evidence of bird strikes, hazardous materials, or sabotage was found. The Airworthiness Review Certificate remained valid until May 2026.
7. Both GEnx-1B engines were recently installed (March and May 2025) and had no outstanding Airworthiness Directives related to fuel control switches.
8. A 2018 FAA advisory warned of possible disengagement of the fuel switch lock, but inspections were non-mandatory and not performed by Air India.
9. Wreckage, engines, and components of interest have been moved to secure facilities for detailed examination.
10. Final report expected within a year, as investigators continue to download data, test limited fuel samples, and review maintenance records.

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Timeline of Critical Events

Time (UTC)	Time (IST)	Event	Source
08:07:37	13:37:37	Takeoff roll begins	[19]
08:08:39	13:38:39	Aircraft lifts off, reaches 180 knots	[19]
08:08:40.5	13:38:40.5	Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches move to CUTOFF	[19]
08:08:42	13:38:42	Ram Air Turbine deploys	[19]
08:08:47	13:38:47	Both engines’ N2 values fall below idle, RAT supplies hydraulics	[19]
08:08:52	13:38:52	Engine 1 switch returned to RUN, partial relight	[19]
08:08:56	13:38:56	Engine 2 switch returned to RUN, failed to sustain thrust	[19]
08:09:05	13:39:05	“Mayday, mayday” call transmitted	[19]
08:09:11	13:39:11	Flight data recorder stops recording	[19]
08:14:44	13:44:44	Emergency vehicles depart for rescue and firefighting	[19]

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Next Steps in Investigation

The AAIB has secured black box data and witness statements. Remaining tasks include:

• Laboratory analysis of limited onboard fuel samples.
• Detailed forensic examination of throttle control modules.
• Interviews with the sole survivor for cockpit actions insight.
• Review of maintenance and inspection records for the 2018 FAA advisory on fuel switch locks.

Investigators will issue safety recommendations if systemic issues emerge during the final report phase.

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Today’s National News

• Supreme Court agrees to hear a petition challenging the inclusion of Aadhaar in Bihar’s voter list revision.
• India to implement new visa fee structure, including a $250 “integrity fee” for certain categories.
• Parliament session begins with debate on defense procurement and civil aviation safety measures.

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Today’s Sports News

• Cricket: England finished Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s at 251/4 against India.
• Tennis: Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals.
• Football: Paris Saint-Germain defeated Real Madrid 4-0 to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Stay tuned for more updates as investigations progress and headlines evolve across aviation safety, national affairs, and global sports.