India Air India Crash: Preliminary Report Reveals Fuel Flow Cut and Cockpit Confusion

Kokcha News Agency reports that the Indian aviation safety authorities released the official preliminary report on the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which resulted in the deaths of at least 260 people. The investigation uncovered that just before the accident, the fuel flow to the engines was abruptly cut off, leading to the aircraft losing power and crashing.

According to the report, the pilots’ cockpit controls for fuel are located between the two pilot seats, just behind the throttle levers, and are protected by metal shields with a locking mechanism designed to prevent accidental switching.

During the investigation, data from the flight’s “black box” showed that when the aircraft reached approximately 180 knots (around 333 km/h), both engines’ fuel cut-off switches were toggled from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” in a one-second interval.

A key moment captured from cockpit voice recordings was one pilot asking the other, “Why did you cut it?” and the other replying, “I didn’t turn it off.” Moments later, the switches were reset to “RUN,” and the engines attempted to restart—yet it was too late, and the aircraft crashed shortly after.

The data also revealed that the switches could theoretically be activated accidentally but are designed to prevent such incidents.

Experts, including CNN security analyst David Soucie, emphasized that these switches are built to be deliberately switched, and accidental activation is extremely rare. They are not automatic or self-moving; they require a conscious action by the crew.

Flight data showed the aircraft’s crew had extensive experience: the captain was 56 years old with over 15,000 flight hours, and the co-pilot was 32 with over 3,400 hours.

The aircraft’s equipment was found to be in normal condition, with no issues detected in fuel quality or external factors like bird strikes. The aircraft’s flaps were set correctly for takeoff at 5 degrees, and the landing gear was down, confirming that the plane was properly prepared for takeoff. The engines were both installed in March and May of the previous year.

The investigation is ongoing, but the preliminary findings indicate that cockpit confusion and possibly improper switch management led to the catastrophic fuel cut-off, resulting in the fatal crash.