The crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad in June, which claimed the lives of 260 people, has become one of the most bizarre air disasters in Indian history. According to the latest preliminary investigation, the plane crashed less than 40 seconds after takeoff due to both engines shutting down simultaneously, with the cockpit voice recordings adding further mystery to the crash.
The report indicates that the fuel control switches of both engines of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were switched to the “cut-off” position within seconds after takeoff, leading to an instant loss of power. This action is extremely unusual during the takeoff phase and is typically performed only after landing.
In the cockpit voice recording, one pilot asked another, “Why did you cut off the fuel?” to which the other responded, “It wasn’t me.” The speakers’ identities could not be determined at this time. The copilot was operating the aircraft while the captain was in a monitoring position. The switches were later returned to the normal position, initiating an automatic relight procedure, but only one engine regained thrust, failing to regain the flight altitude.
The aircraft eventually crashed and exploded upon impact.
Experts have pointed out that the design of such fuel switches incorporates multiple protective mechanisms, including the requirement for lifting to unlock and protective covers, making accidental activation nearly impossible. US aviation safety expert Shawn Pruchnicki told BBC, “If it was human operation, we must ask why the fuel switch was turned off. But there is no discussion of an emergency in the recording, and no indication of pressing the button by mistake.”
Former Executive Director of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Peter Goelz also stated, “It is very unsettling that the pilot shut off the fuel within seconds after takeoff. It is necessary to find out who did it and why.”
The report also mentioned that the “Ram Air Turbine” (RAT) had automatically extended during the accident, indicating a severe system malfunction. The RAT is a small backup generator that deploys automatically in the event of dual engine failure or hydraulic system failure to maintain basic flight controls.
The landing gear was found to be still in the extended position. A 787 pilot noted that in a situation where the altitude was low and all power was lost, the pilots might not have had time to retract the landing gear, as their focus was likely on finding a suitable spot for an emergency landing.
According to investigators, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a safety alert in 2018 regarding some Boeing 737 fuel switches, indicating that some aircraft did not activate the switch-locking function. Despite not issuing a mandatory corrective order, the Boeing 787 uses a similar design, and the involved aircraft did not undergo the recommended inspection. Whether this constitutes a potential design issue remains to be clarified.
The investigation team has yet to determine which pilot operated the fuel switch and has not released the complete cockpit voice content. Experts urge matching voice and identity and emphasize the need to accelerate the installation of cockpit monitoring video systems for future investigations.