A month after the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, a preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has uncovered a startling detail: both engines’ fuel switches were inexplicably moved from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ just seconds after takeoff, cutting off fuel supply and likely triggering the catastrophic loss of power.
According to cockpit voice recordings reviewed in the report, one pilot is heard questioning the other—“Why did you cut off?”—only to receive a denial in return. The exchange, taking place just moments before the aircraft crashed, has become a central clue in understanding India’s worst aviation accident in decades.
What the data reveals
Data from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) shows that both fuel switches transitioned back to ‘RUN’ shortly after the initial cutoff, a sign that the crew attempted to recover control. However, within seconds, the aircraft plummeted and crashed into a hostel for medical students, killing all but one of the 242 passengers and crew onboard, along with approximately 30 people on the ground. The jet was airborne for only 32 seconds.
The crash occurred just after the aircraft departed for London. Despite both pilots being certified, experienced, and well-rested—Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had logged over 8,200 hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar had 1,100—the incident unfolded too quickly for them to recover.
The plane’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT), typically deployed in emergencies involving engine or electronic failure, was seen operating just after takeoff, as captured on airport CCTV. Additionally, a MAYDAY call was made but received no follow-up before the aircraft crashed outside the airport perimeter.
No signs of sabotage, but possible mechanical flaw flagged
Investigators have ruled out sabotage but acknowledged a known advisory by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerning fuel control switches. In some Boeing aircraft models, including the 737, operators had reported issues with the locking mechanism of fuel switches being disengaged. While the FAA did not consider the flaw unsafe at the time, it is now under renewed scrutiny.
Significantly, no bird activity or environmental anomalies were detected near the flight path. The aircraft, fully fueled for an international journey, lost altitude almost immediately after takeoff, and the dual engine failure appears to have been the primary cause.
The final moments of the crash are being pieced together with limited data, as the EAFR stopped recording soon after the switches were toggled. Investigators now face the task of determining how and why such a critical misstep occurred—was it a mechanical fault, human error, or an interaction of both?