Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

A new investigation report has revealed that the Air India plane crash, which killed 260 people last month, was caused when fuel supply to both engines was suddenly cut off just after takeoff.

The tragic incident happened on 12 June 2025, when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad airport in western India. The plane was flying to London Gatwick Airport. Unfortunately, less than a minute after taking off, it crashed, killing almost everyone on board. Out of 261 people, only one British passenger survived, which many are calling a miracle.

What Did The Investigation Find?

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the investigation. Their preliminary report said that cockpit voice recordings showed one pilot asking the other, “Why did you cut off?”, and the other pilot replying, “I did not do so.”

Investigators found that both fuel control switches were moved from “run” to “cutoff” position just seconds after takeoff. These switches are usually used when the plane is on the ground to start or stop the engines. Because both switches were turned to cutoff, both engines lost thrust and power, leaving the plane without the force it needed to stay in the air.

Pilots Tried To Save The Plane

When the engines lost power, confusion reigned in the cockpit. The pilots quickly moved the fuel switches back to their normal in-flight position. This action started the process to relight the engines automatically.

One engine was able to restart and regain power, but by that time, the plane had already lost speed and altitude. It could not gain height again. Before the crash, one of the pilots sent out a mayday call, which is an emergency message to air traffic control asking for immediate help.

Sadly, within moments, the plane crashed into a building near the airport. This building was being used as accommodation for doctors. The crash caused a huge explosion, leading to even more destruction and death.

Who Were The Pilots?

The plane was being flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and Co-pilot Clive Kundar. The report did not mention whose voice asked the question about the fuel cutoff. It only recorded their conversation in the cockpit.

What Caused The Fuel Switches To Move?

At this stage, investigators have not said why the switches were moved. They only know that neither pilot admitted to doing it, and both seemed confused. There is no evidence of mechanical failure so far.

Earlier, experts thought that birds hitting the engines might have caused the crash, but the report said there was no bird activity near the plane’s flight path at that time.

Was There A Problem With The Plane?

The report states there is no fault found with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner or its GE engines so far. Therefore, there are no safety recommendations for other airlines using this type of aircraft at this stage.

This crash is very serious because it is the first time a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has crashed and caused deaths since it started flying in 2011.

What Happens Next?

The final report of this investigation is expected to come out in about 12 months. The investigation is being done with help from Boeing, GE (the engine maker), Air India, and aviation regulators from India, the UK, and the US.

Impact On Air India And Indian Aviation Safety

This crash has been a huge setback for Air India, especially because the airline is trying to improve its business after being bought by the Tata Group from the Indian government in 2022. Since the crash, Air India has reduced its international flights using wide-body planes like the Dreamliner because of operational disruptions and checks.

Many people are now questioning aviation safety in India. However, the chief of India’s aviation safety regulator said that India’s safety record is better than the world average, except for two years when there were major accidents.

Recently, the aviation regulator finished enhanced safety checks on 26 out of 33 Dreamliners owned by Air India, and they did not find any serious issues. Still, in the last few weeks, some reports have highlighted issues in pilot training and aircraft maintenance in the country.

This tragic accident has left many families grieving. Investigators are now working hard to find out exactly what went wrong so that such a terrible incident never happens again.