- 12 July, 2025
New Delhi, July 12, 2025: A month after the Air India crash in Ahmedabad that claimed the lives of at least 270 people, a preliminary investigation report has revealed that the aircraft’s engine fuel switches moved from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ within seconds of take-off. The 15-page document, released early Saturday by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), is part of the inquiry into India’s worst aviation disaster in decades.
In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots was heard asking, “Why did you cut off?” The other responded that he had not done so.
This transition to CUTOFF, which halted fuel supply to the engines, is emerging as a crucial element in the sequence of events aboard the Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 on 12 June.
Shortly after, data from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFR) showed the switches were moved back from CUTOFF to RUN, suggesting the pilots attempted to regain control. The 787 Dreamliner, like other commercial aircraft, is designed to complete take-off using only one engine, and pilots are trained for such contingencies.
“When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is in flight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction,” the report stated.
However, the EAFR recording ceased just seconds later. One of the pilots then issued a MAYDAY distress call. When Air Traffic Control asked for the call sign, there was no reply. The aircraft was then observed crashing just beyond the airport’s boundary.
Heavily fuelled, the plane descended rapidly and struck a hostel for medical students, erupting in flames. Only one of the 242 people on board survived. Approximately 30 individuals on the ground also lost their lives. The aircraft was airborne for merely 32 seconds.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 flight hours, was commanding the flight, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of experience. The report confirmed that both pilots were medically fit, adequately rested, and sufficiently experienced.
The investigation has found no immediate signs of sabotage but referred to an existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory highlighting a potential defect in fuel switch mechanisms. The FAA had issued an information bulletin regarding Boeing 737 models, noting that some fuel control switches had locking features disabled. “The concern was not considered an unsafe condition,” the report added.
The report also noted that the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), which is typically deployed during dual-engine failure or complete electronic or hydraulic malfunction, was activated immediately after take-off, as verified by airport CCTV footage.
“No significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path. The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall,” the report stated.
A similar incident occurred in the 1980s when a Delta Air Lines pilot inadvertently cut off fuel supply to a Boeing 767’s engines. However, in that case, the aircraft was at a higher altitude, enabling a successful engine restart and averting a crash.
Courtesy: NDTV
Image credit: Reuters File
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