On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary findings, revealing critical information about the incident. The report outlines that both engines shut down almost simultaneously just seconds after takeoff, leading to a rapid loss of altitude. Cockpit recordings captured a moment of confusion between the pilots, with one asking why the fuel supply was cut off. The other pilot responded, ‘I didn’t.’ This exchange indicates a serious issue in the cockpit during the flight.
The flight was meant to take passengers from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. It had arrived earlier from Delhi, where a status message about a potential issue was logged. Despite this, Air India’s engineers cleared the aircraft for the next flight. The crew consisted of an experienced pilot and co-pilot, both of whom had adequate rest before the flight. There were 230 passengers on board, including infants, and the aircraft’s weight was within acceptable limits.
After taking off at 13:38 IST, the plane reached a maximum airspeed of 180 knots. Just moments later, both engines transitioned from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’, cutting off fuel supply. CCTV footage showed the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), indicating a total loss of electrical power. The aircraft began to descend rapidly and did not clear the airport perimeter. Although Engine 1 showed signs of restarting, Engine 2 failed to do so, leading to a distress call just a minute after takeoff.
The AAIB report noted that while the aircraft was deemed airworthy, Air India had not acted on a 2018 advisory from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This advisory warned of a possible issue with the fuel control switch lock, which could disengage unintentionally. Since the advisory was non-mandatory, the airline did not implement any changes.
Air India expressed condolences to the families affected by the crash and stated that they are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. Boeing also released a statement, expressing support for the investigation and condolences for those impacted.
The AAIB has not issued immediate safety recommendations for other Boeing 787-8 or GE GEnx-1B engine operators, but the investigation is ongoing. The wreckage and engine parts have been moved for further examination, and more evidence is being collected. A final report is expected in mid-2026, which will provide deeper insights into the causes of this tragic event.