The preliminary report on the Air India flight AI171 accident indicates that the cause was not engine failure, but rather the sudden shutting off of the fuel cutoff switch. Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has appealed for no conclusions to be drawn until the final report is released.
Ahmedabad Plane crash: June 12, 2025, marked another dark day in Indian aviation history when Air India flight AI171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff. This horrific accident resulted in the loss of 270 lives. The preliminary investigation report on the accident has now been released, raising questions not only about technical flaws but also necessitating serious reflection on India's aviation safety system.
Startling revelations in the preliminary report
The preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that both engines of the aircraft suddenly shut down in mid-air. According to the report, the cause was the fuel cutoff switch unexpectedly switching from the 'RUN' mode to the 'CUTOFF' mode. This directly resulted in the cessation of fuel supply to both engines, causing the aircraft to crash just 32 seconds after takeoff.
Cockpit Voice Recorder reveals many secrets
The report also mentions that when both engines shut down, a pilot's voice was recorded on the cockpit voice recorder saying, "Why did you shut down the engine?" In response, the other pilot said, "I didn't." This clarifies that the engine shutdown was not intentional but occurred unintentionally, leading to the accident.
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu's significant statement
In this serious matter, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu has also responded. Speaking to reporters in Visakhapatnam, he said, "I don't think we should draw any conclusions at this point. We should wait for the final report. The report that has come out is based on a preliminary investigation."
He praised the country's pilots and crew, stating that India has some of the world's most skilled and dedicated aviation professionals. "Our pilots and crew are the backbone of civil aviation. We take full care of their well-being. We should not accuse anyone without complete information."
270 lives lost in the accident
A total of 270 people died in this accident, including 241 passengers and crew on board the aircraft and 29 people on the ground. The accident occurred during takeoff when the aircraft was just gaining altitude. The shutdown of both engines at such a low altitude meant that the pilots had no possibility of an emergency landing.
The big question – How did the fuel cutoff switch change on its own?
The most crucial aspect of the investigation is this – if the pilots did not touch the switch, how did it move from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' mode? Was this due to a technical malfunction? Or was it the result of an automatic software glitch? The investigation agencies are now probing this matter deeply.
