{"id":102959,"date":"2025-07-12T03:09:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T21:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=102959"},"modified":"2025-07-12T10:37:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T05:07:05","slug":"air-india-787-crash-preliminary-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/12\/air-india-787-crash-preliminary-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Air India 787 Crash Preliminary Report: Pilot Error Suspected in Engine Shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEW DELHI\u2014<\/strong> Tata Group-owned Air India (AI)<\/a> Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), crashed shortly after takeoff on 12 June 2025. All 241 onboard, except one, plus 19 people on the ground, were killed in the deadliest Indian air accident in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has released a preliminary report confirming that both engine fuel control switches were inadvertently moved to “CUTOFF,” resulting in loss of thrust mid-air. Investigators are now focusing on crew actions, as no mechanical faults were found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: By Kambui – Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-ANM, CC BY 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=58290529<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Air India 787 Crash Preliminary Report<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB<\/strong>, had landed earlier that day from Delhi<\/a> and was cleared for its onward journey to the UK. On board were 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and 2 flight crew members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 08:07 UTC, the aircraft received takeoff clearance from Runway 23 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (VAAH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flight data shows the aircraft lifted off at 08:08:39 UTC. Merely seconds after reaching a top airspeed of 180 knots, both engines lost thrust as their fuel cutoff switches were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within a one-second interval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mayday was declared at 08:09:05 UTC, just before the plane crashed into a densely populated residential area near the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: By Alex Beltyukov – http:\/\/www.airliners.net\/photo\/Boeing\/Boeing-787-8-Dreamliner\/1940205\/L\/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=20304402<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Flight Data and Cockpit Voice Analysis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Data from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) provided critical insights. At the moment of failure, the cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking, \u201cWhy did you cut off?\u201d\u2014<\/strong>indicating that the action was unintentional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other pilot responded with denial. The co-pilot was flying the aircraft while the captain served as pilot monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both engines began a relight sequence after the switches were returned to the \u201cRUN\u201d position within 10 seconds. However, the recovery was insufficient. Engine 1 showed signs of stabilization, while Engine 2 failed to regain core speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft could not maintain altitude and impacted buildings within one nautical mile of the departure end of the runway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Bhavya Velani\/Aviation A2Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aircraft and Engine Condition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner<\/a>, manufactured in 2013 and powered by GEnx-1B engines, had undergone routine maintenance with no reported defects on the fuel control switch system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2018 FAA advisory had flagged potential disengagement issues with similar fuel control switch locking mechanisms across Boeing platforms, but Air India had not performed the optional inspection, as it was not mandated<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time of the accident, the aircraft had four Category C Minimum Equipment List (MEL) items and one Category A MEL related to nitrogen generation. All were within validity and unrelated to flight-critical systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: PM Narendra Modi X Handle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wreckage Pattern and Ground Damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft struck the BJ Medical College hostel just outside the airport perimeter. A wide debris field\u2014approximately 1,000 x 400 feet\u2014contained wreckage parts embedded across six buildings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tail and right landing gear were lodged in Building A, the right engine separated upon hitting a rooftop water tank, and the left engine impacted Building D at ground level. Fire damage was extensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vertical stabilizer was found detached 200 feet south of the main wreckage. Both engines and key flight systems were quarantined for analysis. Notably, the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was not activated during the crash sequence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crew Information and Duty Status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The captain, aged 56, held an ATPL with over 15,000 flight hours<\/strong>\u20148,500 of those on the Boeing 787.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 32-year-old co-pilot<\/a>, a CPL holder, had just over 3,400 flight hours<\/strong>, including 1,128 hours on the Boeing 787. Both had adequate rest before the flight and passed preflight medical checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to duty logs, both pilots had no flight hours in the preceding 24 hours, with standard cumulative flight times in the preceding 7, 30, and 180 days\u2014indicating no fatigue-related limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Siddh Dhuri, Compounded by Aviation A2Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ATC Communication and Final Moments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All communications with Ahmedabad ATC were reviewed. After requesting pushback at 07:43 UTC, the aircraft taxied, lined up, and was cleared for takeoff by 08:07:33 UTC. The aircraft issued a \u201cMAYDAY\u201d call at 08:09:05 UTC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No further communication was received, and visual confirmation of the crash was made shortly after by the control tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ram Air Turbine (RAT)<\/strong> was seen deploying seconds after fuel cutoff, confirming rapid loss of power. The Automatic Power Unit (APU) initiated start-up autonomously, and both engines showed signs of igniter function. Yet, thrust recovery was inadequate to prevent impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What
Representative Photo: By YSSYguy at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=48246637<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Findings So Far<\/h2>\n\n\n\n