Fuel Cutoff Horror: What Brought Down Air India Flight 171

One of the Worst Aviation Disasters in India’s History May Come Down to Two Switches and One Second

When Air India Flight 171 took off from Ahmedabad on the evening of June 12, no one suspected it would become a national tragedy. Bound for London with 242 souls on board, the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner never made it past the airport’s perimeter. Minutes later, it crashed into the BJ Medical College and Hospital hostel, killing passengers, crew, and several people on the ground.

In total: 260 lives lost. Only one passenger survived.

Now, a preliminary investigation report obtained by CNN has revealed a jaw-dropping twist — the engines were deliberately starved of fuel mid-takeoff.

“Why Did You Cut Off?” — “I Didn’t.” The Voice Recorder Reveals Panic in the Cockpit

According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India, the aircraft had just reached an airspeed of 180 knots when both engines abruptly lost power. The reason? Fuel control switches — key cockpit mechanisms that control the flow of fuel — were flipped from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ within a one-second interval.

The black box cockpit recording captures the moment of confusion.

“Why did you cut off?”

“I didn’t.”

Moments later, as the pilots scrambled to reverse the switches, it was too late.

Designed Not to Fail — But They Did

On the Boeing 787, these fuel switches are deliberately designed to be secure — placed just below the throttle, shielded by a protective metal bar, and locked in place to prevent accidents.

CNN’s safety analyst David Soucie called such a scenario “extremely rare,” saying, “These switches don’t move on their own. It takes an intentional hand.”

That chilling statement raises uncomfortable questions: Was this pilot error, a tragic miscommunication, or something more technical?

The Final Seconds: Mayday, Silence, Then Impact

Once the switches were flipped back to “RUN,” the aircraft's systems automatically began the relight sequence. But the engines didn’t have enough time to recover. The Ram Air Turbine — a backup emergency power source — was deployed, indicating a total power loss.

Seconds later, a pilot’s voice screamed:

“MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY!”

The control tower called back. No one answered.

Flight AI171 plunged into the ground, just beyond the runway.

Experienced Pilots, No Obvious Warning Signs

Investigators found no evidence of bird strikes, dangerous cargo, or fuel contamination. The takeoff weight was well within limits. The left engine had been installed in March, the right in May. The captain had 15,000 hours of flying experience; the first officer had 3,400.

Everything — from flap positions to fuel quality — checked out.

So why did one or both pilots engage the fuel cutoff switches?

A Tragedy on the Ground as Well as in the Air

As the plane fell, it slammed into a dormitory at the BJ Medical College and Hospital in Ahmedabad. Several students and staff were killed on impact, adding to the death toll and trauma.

This wasn’t just a crash — it was a catastrophe felt across two fronts.

Air India’s Response: Shock, Grief, and Silence

In a brief statement, Air India said it had received the report and would continue cooperating fully with authorities.

“We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time,” the airline posted.

But questions are swirling, and families are demanding answers. Aviation experts around the world are calling for a full review of training protocols, cockpit safety procedures, and equipment checks.

What Comes Next: An International Investigation and Global Scrutiny

While India leads the investigation, the case has caught the attention of international aviation bodies and Boeing itself. With a Boeing 787 involved and global routes impacted, pressure is mounting on all parties — including the aircraft manufacturer — to explain how such a failure could occur in a supposedly fail-safe system.

The only certainty: something went terribly wrong, and unless it is fully understood, it could happen again.

One Passenger Survived. Their Testimony Could Be Critical.

Details about the lone survivor remain tightly controlled, but officials have confirmed they are being interviewed as part of the investigation. Their account — whatever they saw or heard in those chaotic seconds — could be the key to unlocking the full truth.