Fuel switches found in 'RUN' position: Aftermath of AI 171 crash in images; what the wreckage shows

NEW DELHI: The crash of Air India flight AI 171 on June 12 has been traced back to a sudden and unexplained fuel cutoff to both engines just three seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has revealed in its preliminary report. The report, released Saturday, includes a detailed timeline of the final moments of the London-bound Dreamliner, supported by critical images showing the impact trail, wreckage, and damage to key aircraft components.

Images included in the report capture the dramatic descent of the Boeing 787 as it clipped treetops, an incineration chimney, and then collided with the BJ Medical College hostel building just 1.6 km from the runway. The aircraft, weighing 213.4 tons—nearly its maximum takeoff weight—never gained sufficient altitude after lift-off.

“The aircraft achieved maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots… and immediately thereafter, the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of one second,” the report states. This caused both engine fan rotation speeds (N1 and N2) to fall below minimum idle, deploying the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), as captured in airport CCTV footage.


The pilots declared a “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” distress call 26 seconds after lift-off. Cockpit recordings revealed one pilot asking the other why the engines were shut off, with the second responding, “he did not do so.”

Images from the crash site offer further insight:


Aircraft attitude at the time of impact with Building A

Inboard parts of the right wing were found in Buildings A & B and the areas surrounding the buildings.

The right engine detached after hitting a concrete water tank on the roof, resting near the building’s southwest wall. Parts of the right wing were scattered across Buildings A and B.



Image documents the flap handle assembly, burned but fixed in normal takeoff setting, and the landing gear lever still in the “DOWN” position.


Flap handle locked in normal takeoff position; landing gear found in 'DOWN' setting


The flap handle assembly (fig.11) sustained significant thermal damage. The handle was found to be firmly seated in the 5-degree flap position, consistent with a normal takeoff flap setting.


RAT deployment seconds after lift-off, with no evidence of bird activity in the vicinity.


Flight data preserved: Forward EAFR powered by backup system even after crash


Despite attempts to restore fuel supply (engine 1 and 2 fuel switches flipped back to RUN within 14 seconds), it was too late. The aircraft crashed at 1:39:11 pm (IST), just 32 seconds after becoming airborne.

While the precise cause behind the fuel cutoff remains under investigation, the report notes a 2018 FAA bulletin warning of possible disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on similar aircraft. Air India, however, had not performed inspections as the advisory was non-mandatory.

Air India responded to the report, stating: “We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report… and continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities.”

The final investigation is ongoing and may determine whether mechanical failure, human error, or design vulnerabilities led to the switches’ sudden transition from “RUN” to “CUTOFF.”