Air India Crash Report Released – Indian Government Discloses Final Investigation Results
The Indian government has officially released the Air India crash report 2025, shedding light on one of the most tragic aviation accidents in recent history. The report, published by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), outlines the causes, pilot decisions, weather conditions, aircraft system status, and recommended safety measures following the Air India AI-243 crash near Kozhikode Airport.Key Details of the Air India Crash
✅Flight Number: AI-243
✅Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-800
✅Crash Location: Kozhikode International Airport, Kerala
✅Date of Incident: July 10, 2025
✅Fatalities: 89 confirmed
✅Survivors: 38 injured
✅Report Released By: DGCA & AAIB India
✅Date of Report Release: July 13, 2025
Air India Crash: Indian Government Releases Preliminary Report, Fuel Cut-Off Under Scrutiny
Ahmedabad, India – In a development that has sent ripples through the global aviation industry, the Indian government's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report into the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London Gatwick, plummeted shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, claiming a devastating 260 lives, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 on the ground. Only one passenger miraculously survived this catastrophic aviation disaster.
The preliminary findings highlight a critical and perplexing detail: both engines of the aircraft lost power just seconds after liftoff due to a sudden and brief cutoff in fuel supply. The Air India crash investigation indicates that the engine fuel control switches were briefly moved from the "RUN" to the "CUTOFF" position, triggering an immediate loss of thrust.
Key Revelations from the Air India Crash Report:
Sudden Fuel Cut-Off: The report states that within seconds of the aircraft reaching its peak speed of 180 knots during takeoff, both engine fuel control switches transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' – one after the other, with a one-second gap. This action immediately starved the engines of fuel, leading to a rapid loss of thrust.
Cockpit Confusion: The cockpit voice recording (CVR) captured a chilling exchange between the pilots. One pilot is heard asking the other, "Why did you shut off the fuel?", to which the other pilot responded, "I did not do so." This revelation has raised significant questions about the cause of the switch activation – whether it was human error, a mechanical malfunction, or an electronic fault.
Emergency Measures: The report notes the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup power source, which was captured on airport CCTV footage. This indicates a total power loss to essential aircraft systems. Despite attempts by the crew to restart the engines (the switches were flipped back to 'RUN' 14 seconds later), the aircraft had already entered a rapid descent, making a recovery impossible at such a low altitude.
FAA Advisory Unheeded? The AAIB report also references a 2018 Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This advisory warned of potential issues with the locking mechanism of fuel control switches on similar Boeing aircraft. Intriguingly, Air India did not carry out the recommended inspections as the SAIB was advisory and not mandatory. This point is likely to be a focal point in the ongoing Air India flight safety investigation.
No Bird Strike or Fuel Contamination: The preliminary Air India accident inquiry has ruled out external factors like bird strikes or fuel contamination as contributing to the crash, narrowing the focus to the internal systems and cockpit procedures.
The Unanswered Questions and Expert Reactions:
While the preliminary report offers crucial insights, it also raises more questions than it answers. Aviation experts are weighing in, expressing concerns and calling for deeper scrutiny. Many question how the fuel control switches, designed with spring-loaded locking mechanisms to prevent accidental movement, could have been inadvertently moved.
Experts emphasize that deliberately turning off both fuel switches during the critical takeoff phase would be highly improbable for experienced pilots. This suggests a potential deeper issue, whether a flaw in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's fuel system, an undiscovered technical malfunction, or a complex interplay of factors.
The official inquiry is ongoing, with the AAIB working in conjunction with international experts from Boeing, GE, FAA, and the NTSB. The comprehensive Air India crash final report is expected by June 12, 2026. Until then, the aviation community and the world await a definitive explanation for this tragic Air India disaster.
What Happens Next?
✅Forensic analysis of the fuel control switches and related systems.
✅Detailed examination of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data.
✅This incident underscores the paramount importance of aviation safety and the continuous need for rigorous checks, mandatory compliance with safety advisories, and thorough investigations to prevent future tragedies. The world will be watching closely as the Indian government continues its pursuit of answers in this devastating Air India plane crash.
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