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Preliminary Report Reveals Details of Air India Flight 171 Crash

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has released a preliminary report on the Air India Flight 171 crash, detailing the dramatic moments leading to the tragedy. The report reveals that both engines lost fuel shortly after takeoff, raising questions about potential miscommunication between the pilots. With 260 lives lost, this incident marks one of India's deadliest aviation disasters. The investigation is ongoing, with critical components preserved for further analysis. Read on for a comprehensive overview of the findings and implications of this tragic event.
By Narendra Chaudhary | Jul 12, 2025, 10:25 IST
Preliminary Report Reveals Details of Air India Flight 171 Crash

Initial Findings from the Air India Flight 171 Incident

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on the Air India Flight 171 crash shortly after midnight on Saturday. The report includes dramatic cockpit audio recordings, revealing a pilot's realization that both engines had lost fuel during takeoff, while the co-pilot denied having made such an action.




This 15-page report, published one month after the tragic accident that claimed 260 lives, provides the first official account of the final moments of one of India's deadliest aviation disasters and raises new questions regarding the simultaneous failure of both engines.


 


The AAIB's report, released on June 12, details the crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 in Ahmedabad.


 


It was revealed that just seconds after takeoff, both engines shut down, with the fuel cutoff switches for Engine 1 and Engine 2 switching from RUN to CUTOFF within a second.




According to the AAIB, after an initial stall, there was a brief recovery in both engines, but they ultimately failed to stabilize. This incident resulted in the loss of 260 lives.




The AAIB stated that activities at the crash site, including drone photography and videography, have been completed, and the wreckage has been moved to a secure area near the airport.




The report noted, "Both engines have been retrieved from the crash site and stored separately in a hangar at the airport." It further stated, "Critical components have been identified and preserved for further investigation."




The aircraft reached a maximum indicated airspeed of 180 knots at 08:08:42 UTC, just before the fuel cutoff switches for both engines transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF, effectively shutting down both engines during the flight.




The report also disclosed that both engines shut down immediately after takeoff, with a one-second interval between the failures of Engine 1 and Engine 2, leading to a cessation of fuel supply and a reduction in the speed of engines N1 and N2.




Significant information was obtained from the cockpit voice recordings, where one pilot can be heard asking, "Why did you cut off?" to which the other pilot responded that he had not done so.




This exchange raises concerns about potential miscommunication or technical failure in the critical seconds leading up to the engines shutting down.




The report acknowledged that airport CCTV footage showed the ram air turbine (RAT) deploying shortly after takeoff during the aircraft's initial climb.




Before crossing the airport perimeter wall, the aircraft began to lose altitude. The investigation report further noted that no significant bird activity was observed near the flight path, ruling out the possibility of a bird strike at this stage.




The AAIB stated, "At this stage of the investigation, there are no recommended actions for operators and manufacturers of the Boeing BA.N 787-8 and/or GE GE.N GEnx-1B engines."




The investigation is ongoing, with several key components identified and preserved for further analysis. The bureau found that the extended airframe flight recorder (EAFR) at the rear of the aircraft suffered significant damage and could not be accessed through conventional means.




This incident occurred just seconds after the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off, colliding with a building of the BJ Medical College, resulting in the deaths of 260 individuals, including 241 passengers and crew members on board, as well as 19 people on the ground.




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