ir India Plane Crash Investigation Live Updates: Find here all the live updates related to the Air India crash investigation for AI171 here.
- 09:29 | July 12, 2025
Air India Crash Investigation Updates: What are fuel switches
The preliminary report from investigators probing the Air India crash that killed 260 people showed that seconds after takeoff, the Boeing 787 plane’s engine fuel control switches were switched off briefly, starving them of fuel.
They are switches that regulate fuel flow into a plane’s engines. They are used by pilots to start or shut down engines on the ground or to manually shut down or restart engines if an engine failure occurs during a flight.
Aviation experts say a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches that feed the engines. But if moved, the effect would be immediate, cutting off engine power.
There are independent power systems and wiring for the fuel cutoff switches and the fuel valves controlled by those switches, according to U.S. aviation safety expert John Cox.
- 09:28 | July 12, 2025
Air India Crash Investigation Updates: Where are the Fuel Switches located?
The two fuel control switches on a 787, in Air India’s case equipped with two GE engines, are located below the thrust levers.
The switches are spring-loaded to remain in position. To change one from run to cutoff, a pilot has to first pull the switch up and then move it from run to cutoff or vice versa.
There are two modes: ‘CUTOFF’ and ‘RUN
- 09:22 | July 12, 2025
Air India Crash Investigation Updates: Profiles of the two pilots at the controls
Air India crash: Who were the two pilots on board?
Air India crash probe reveals fuel switch error in cockpit. Spotlight on pilots Sumeet Sabharwal and Clive Kunder as investigation intensifies.
- 09:20 | July 12, 2025
Air India Crash Investigation Updates: “Will continue to support investigation,” says Boeing
“Will continue to support investigation”: Boeing
Boeing supports investigation into Air India Flight AI171 crash, tragic incident kills 260 people in Ahmedabad.
- 09:17 | July 12, 2025
Air India Crash Investigation Updates: Preliminary Report
The preliminary report from the probe into the tragic crash of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft a month ago has revealed that both engines shut down seconds after take-off.
As per the report prepared by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), just three seconds after reaching its peak speed of 180 knots, both fuel control switches were found to have transitioned from ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’ mode, causing both engines to shut down mid-air.
However, the report did not cite the cause of this occurrence.
In fact, the cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” followed by the other pilot’s reply, “I did not do so.”
Consequently, the ‘Ram Air Turbine’ (RAT) system deployed automatically. This is a backup system that is triggered by a loss of engine and electrical power.
According to the report, the forward flight data recorder confirmed that the engines began an automatic relight sequence within seconds of the shutdown.
- 09:15 | July 12, 2025
Air India Crash Investigation Updates: The role of engine fuel control switches
Explained: How fuel switches triggered Air India crash
Air India crash probe shows fuel switches briefly flipped to ‘CUTOFF’ after takeoff, shutting both engines. Here’s what these switches do and what went wrong.
- 09:14 | July 12, 2025
Air India Crash Investigation Updates: Sudden engine shutdown caused Air India Ahmedabad-London flight crash; Preliminary report
Sudden engine shutdown caused Air India Ahmedabad-London flight crash: preliminary report
Preliminary report on Air India crash reveals engines shut down mid-air, leading to tragic loss of 241 lives.
- 09:14 | July 12, 2025
Watch | Sudden engine shutdown caused Air India Ahmedabad-London flight crash: AAIB preliminary report
Published on July 12, 2025