A preliminary investigation into the crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that killed 260 people last month has revealed critical confusion in the cockpit, after the aircraft’s fuel cutoff switches unexpectedly flipped, starving the engines of power shortly after takeoff.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India released the report early Saturday, shedding light on the June 12 disaster—the deadliest global aviation accident in a decade. The flight had just departed from Ahmedabad, bound for London, when it began to lose thrust and rapidly descended, crashing into a nearby building.
According to the report, closed-circuit TV footage showed the plane’s ram air turbine—a backup power source—deploying soon after takeoff, indicating both engines had lost power. Moments before the crash, one pilot was recorded asking the other, “Why did you cut off the fuel?” to which the second pilot replied that he hadn’t.
The report did not specify which of the two pilots—Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, a veteran instructor with over 15,000 flight hours, or First Officer Clive Kunder, 32—made the remarks or transmitted the "Mayday" distress call.
Investigators said the twin fuel switches had moved from the "run" to "cutoff" position just seconds apart, an action that would immediately shut down the engines. Yet the report remains inconclusive on how the switches were moved and offers no indication that an emergency required such action.
Aviation experts have expressed disbelief that such a critical error could occur unintentionally. “A pilot wouldn’t turn off both fuel switches during climb unless there was an emergency—and even then, not simultaneously,” said U.S. aviation analyst John Nance.
Anthony Brickhouse, another safety expert, questioned the plausibility of accidental switch movement, noting the switches are designed to prevent inadvertent activation.
At the crash site, investigators found both switches returned to the "run" position, and flight data suggested the engines may have briefly restarted before the aircraft impacted the ground.
The Dreamliner had reached an altitude of 650 feet before plummeting and crashing into a building, striking trees and an incineration chimney along the way. Only one of the 242 passengers survived, along with 19 casualties reported on the ground.
The crash poses a serious setback for Tata Group, which has been working to rehabilitate Air India’s image and modernize its operations since taking over the airline from the government in 2022. In a brief statement, the airline acknowledged the report and said it is cooperating fully with authorities.
Meanwhile, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have pledged to closely monitor developments. The FAA said it remains committed to “following the facts” and will take corrective action if any new risks emerge. Boeing stated it continues to support the investigation, while GE Aerospace, which manufactures the engines, has yet to comment.
The crash has put Air India under increased international scrutiny. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency recently announced plans to probe Air India Express, the airline’s low-cost subsidiary, after reports that it failed to replace defective engine parts in a timely manner and falsified compliance documents.
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