UK reviews Air India crash report; questions linger over fuel cutoff

Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has responded to India’s preliminary report into the Air India Flight 171 disaster, which killed 260 people seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad last month.

“The UK AAIB welcomes the publication of this preliminary report, which is a summary of factual information uncovered so far by the AAIB India investigation,” it said. Holding ‘Expert’ status in the probe, the UK AAIB stressed that “release of information on the investigation rests solely with the Indian authorities".

This role allows the UK agency to visit the crash site, access publicly cleared details, and receive the final report — but not to participate directly or view sensitive data.

The Indian report revealed that both fuel-control switches on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner moved to the “cutoff” position right after liftoff, starving the engines. Voice recordings captured one pilot asking why the fuel was cut; the other replied he hadn’t done it.

The switches then returned to “run”, but the engines failed to regain full thrust in time.

Before takeoff, the crew was rested, tested fit for duty, and the aircraft was within weight limits. Weather was clear, and no dangerous cargo was loaded. A backup ram air turbine was deployed after takeoff, hinting at sudden power loss.

Separately, the report highlighted a 2018 US advisory warning some Boeing fuel switches might lack a locking feature. Air India had not inspected its fleet, as the notice wasn’t mandatory.

The investigation continues as experts analyse flight data and examine recovered wreckage, while families await answers.

(The writer is a career journalist and currently serving as Communications and Advocacy Director at UNITED SIKHS (UK), a charity registered in England and Wales.)

India