Following the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on June 12, 2025, preliminary findings from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have revealed that both engine fuel-control switches were manually switched to “cut-off” seconds after takeoff—cutting off fuel supply and causing loss of thrust.
Victims’ families, devastated by the loss of 260 lives onboard and on the ground, are now demanding transparent answers, seeking clarity on whether this action was accidental, deliberate, or the result of software misconfiguration.
What the Report Found
- Both fuel switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF in rapid succession moments after liftoff; cockpit audio captured one pilot questioning the other— “Why did you cut it off?”—while the other responded, “I didn’t do it”.
- These switches are designed to be positive-lock out guarded, making accidental activation highly unlikely .
Families’ Reaction & Demands
- Relatives criticize the preliminary report as incomplete and biased toward pilot error, demanding a full, independent forensic investigation.
- They want authorities to analyze black box transcripts, inspect pilot actions and backgrounds, and evaluate if existing FAA advisories from 2018—which warned that such switches could be vulnerable—were properly addressed.
Experts & Official Responses
- Aviation specialists argue that the cutoff could only be deliberate due to safety safeguards—fuel switch guards and locking mechanisms.
- Air India, Boeing, GE, NTSB, and the FAA are collaborating with AAIB on a transparent joint probe, while critics emphasize the need for timely disclosure.
Why This Matters
- A mysterious fuel cutoff leading to a crash undermines confidence in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and affects global aviation safety standards.
- Families insist on accountability—whether mechanical, procedural, or human—to prevent future tragedies.
- The incident could trigger new safety directives for cockpit switch design and pilot training across major aircraft manufacturers.
Conclusion
With more questions than answers, families of the 260 victims are demanding a thorough and impartial inquiry. Until there is clarity about who or what flipped the fuel switches, uncertainty and grief will linger over this catastrophic event.
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