Air India 171 crash linked to sudden fuel cutoff on both engines, report reveals
Fuel to both engines of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating as AI 171 was cut just three seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. The plane, near max takeoff weight with 54,200 kg of fuel, lost power quickly and crashed 29 seconds later.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) says the fuel cutoff switches for engine 1 and 2 unexpectedly shifted from “run” to “cutoff” within one second of each other. The pilots were shocked, with one asking the other why the fuel cutoff happened. The other denied any action. 
The engines’ fan speeds (N1 and N2) dropped sharply as the plane lost altitude, crossing the airport perimeter wall. The aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed as backup hydraulic power when engine speeds fell below idle.
Fuel supply was restored partially 10-14 seconds after the cutoff, with engine 1 and engine 2 fuel switches returning to “run.” But it was too late. The pilots issued a “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” call 26 seconds after liftoff, and the crash followed within 6 seconds.
The plane hit trees and a chimney before crashing into a hostel 0.9 nautical miles from the runway. Maintenance records found throttle control modules replaced in 2019 and 2023, but no fuel switch issues were reported since.
The AAIB notes a 2018 FAA advisory about potential fuel switch lock disengagement on Boeing models but says Air India did not perform recommended inspections since the advisory was not mandatory.
Air India responded after the report release:
Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.
We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025.Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses. Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB.
Here’s the timeline in IST:
- 1:38:39 pm — AI 171 lifts off
- 1:38:42 pm — Fuel cutoff switches for both engines shift from RUN to CUTOFF
- 1:38:47 pm — Engines’ fan speeds drop below idle, RAT deploys
- 1:38:52 pm — Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch returns to RUN
- 1:38:56 pm — Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch returns to RUN
- 1:39:05 pm — Pilots issue MAYDAY call
- 1:39:11 pm — Flight data stops; plane crashes outside airport boundary
The cause of the unexpected fuel cutoff remains under investigation.
